Barbour County students recognize Alabama Power linemen as Super Citizen Heroes
Alabama Power linemen in Eufaula were recently recognized as Super Citizen Heroes by the Liberty Learning Foundation at its annual Super Citizens Celebration.
Becky Saunders, vice president of Development, Liberty Learning Foundation. (contributed)
Liberty Learning provided lesson plans for a 10-week study on the theme “What is a Hero?” The lesson plans were a collaborative effort between the teachers and counselors.
“The Liberty Learning program tries to get students to look within their own community to find people who are doing good work, like being a mentor and making the community safe,” said Becky Saunders, vice president of development for the Liberty Learning Foundation. “We asked the students to identify people within their very own community who are their heroes, and Alabama Power linemen were chosen.”
Heroes from Alabama Power were chosen from nearly 150 fifth-grade students at Eufaula Elementary School.
Eufaula Primary, Eufaula Elementary, Barbour County Intermediate and The Lakeside School 2nd-, 3rd- and 5th-grade students filled the Eufaula Recreation Center Gymnasium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage. (Liberty Learning Foundation)
The students chose Alabama Power linemen based on what they discussed and agreed upon:
- Essential first responders: Linemen work in severe weather.
- Dedication: Driven to restore power to all customers.
- Safety first: Linemen work safely, go home safely.
Mac (left) and Kennedy (right) selected Alabama Power Apprentice Lineman Austin Welsh (center) as their Torch Team Hero, celebrating his service and leadership in the community. (Liberty Learning Foundation)
Auston Welsh, who is an apprentice lineman, attended the celebration on behalf of the line crew workers at the Eufaula Community Center. His responsibilities as a lineman are to build, maintain and upgrade powerlines.
“I love being a lineman,” said Welsh. “I started dreaming of being a lineman while I was in high school. What I love so much about being a lineman is that at the end of the day, I can look back at what I have accomplished and realize I was a part of that.”
Lakeisha Russaw, community relations specialist, Alabama Power. (contributed)
Lakeisha Russaw, a community relations specialist at Alabama Power, was among the event’s organizers.
“I have worked with Liberty Learning for more than a decade,” Russaw said. “The program exceeded my expectations academically and emotionally. Through the Liberty Learning Super Citizens Program, the students learn career readiness, civics, character development, financial literacy and responsible career exploration in the classroom. Today, they showed us so much more: Students brought our community heroes on stage and shared the reasons why they chose to honor them. The students are already transforming our community by acting on the lessons they learned.”
Tony Jones, crew foreman, Alabama Power. (contributed)
“I am elated that our linemen were chosen as superheroes,” said Tony Jones, the Alabama Power crew foreman in Eufaula. “These linemen are very dedicated, and they really care about the community. They are extremely hard workers. This crew is very experienced, and they take care of each other.
“Any time there are power outages – poles down, transformers out or any other power outage related issues – our team is ready and prepared,” Jones added. “These linemen consistently deliver exceptional power restoration services.”
Liberty Learning Foundation’s educational programs and live events help schools enhance teaching of civics, character, financial literacy and career lessons in K-12 classrooms. The active civics program and interactive resources empower educators to teach these crucial lessons in less time, with higher retention, alongside STEM subjects.
To learn more about the Liberty Learning Foundation, visit the website.