Fifth-graders graduate from Liberty Learning, name local heroes

MADISON – Madison City Schools fifth-graders completed Liberty Learning’s 10-week “Super Citizen” program. Each school named a “Torch Team Hero” who demonstrates admirable qualities of a good citizen.

For the 975 fifth-graders, their study culminated with a high-energy event in Zompa Auditorium at Bob Jones High School on March 31. Students received graduation certificates, recited the Super Citizen Pledge and sang patriotic anthems.

Torch Team Heroes, who embody positive traits of citizenship, appeared on stage with applause from the SRO audience.

For each school, fifth-graders selected a Torch Team Hero. (“The Madison Record” asked each elementary principal to comment.):

* Columbia Elementary School — Chose Charlie’s grandfather Stephen Colo as a Torch Team Hero.

* Heritage Elementary School – Nurse Abby Turner graduated from Samford University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2007. Turner’s first job was at the Trauma/Burn Intensive Care Unit at University of Alabama at Birmingham or UAB Hospital, according to fifth-grade teacher Jaime Mathison.

Turner is experienced in surgery and critical care. “Critical care is where I worked when COVID-19 first hit in 2020 and where I worked until moving into the school system last year as a school nurse,” Turner said.

Students wrote essays about their candidates for hero. The top four essays were selected, and “Nurse Abby won by a landslide,” Mathison said.

* Columbia Elementary School – Students chose Charlie’s grandfather, Stephen Colo.

* Horizon Elementary School — Paul tells the reasons why his classmates selected his older brother Mark. In addition, fifth-grader Ivy surprised teacher Chelsea Young with the honor.

* Madison Elementary School — Fifth-grader Isaac campaigned for Clay Hinchman.

* Midtown Elementary School — Midtown chose Lucas’ mother, Jennifer Truong, as their Torch Team Hero.

* Mill Creek Elementary School — “Mr. Eliot Mustell is a special agent for the FBI, solving criminalities, protecting people and making sure they are secure,” Mill Creek Assistant Principal Kiley Rikard. “His daughter nominated him for this honor. . . not because he is a hero who flies around on capes, but because he is a hero who plays a huge role ‘behind the scenes.’”

Eliot Mustell “is always glad to help others, no matter what he’s going through himself. He often deals in cybersecurity and has even shared his talents with Mill Creek students as many of them learned about crime scene investigations,” Rikard said.

* Rainbow Elementary School — Major William Franklin Carrigg III is the Torch Team Hero. His daughter Charlotte is his biggest fan.

For more information, visit libertylearning.org.