Officer Hudson hugs Jake Robb, Whitley Mears and Sarah Chandler during Hartselle Intermediate School’s Super Citizen graduation celebration Friday. | Joy Haynes

Hartselle Intermediate School fifth graders closed out their Super Citizens program Friday with a graduation celebration honoring local heroes nominated by students.

Thirteen local super citizens were honored with a miniature replica of the Statue of Liberty, which contained a piece of authentic material from the monument’s centennial restoration.

The nine-week course was sponsored by the Liberty Learning Foundation and Regions Bank and taught students about liberty, civic responsibility, character education, financial literacy and career development.

Students were able to put their civic responsibility into action by honoring others. Among those honored was Tab Easterly, a veteran who built laser-guided bombs for the Vietnam War. Easterly was nominated by his great-grandson Blake Lorance.

Easterly traveled about six hours from Niceville, Fla., to receive his special honor.

“I have never been so honored as today when Blake (Lorance) chose me,” Easterly said.

Lorance read his essay about why his great-grandfather was a super citizen to him during Friday’s program.

Hartselle High School Resource Officer Michael Hudson was nominated by Jake Robb, Sarah Chandler and Whitley Mears. They commended him for his helpfulness, courage and positive attitude.

“It’s always such an honor to be nominated by students, especially ones who only know me through my job,” Hudson said. “It really makes you feel good about the generation coming up behind you.”

Hudson said he hopes this program will help Hartselle have more engaged citizens.

“I hope they learn what it means to be a citizen and the responsibility that comes with it, so they will help others and actively participate in their communities,” Hudson said. “Hopefully they will want to give to their country and their community instead of only wanting to receive from it.”

Other local citizens honored include Danny Lopez, a missionary nominated by Abby Lopez; Harley Pearson, a veteran nominated by Lyndsey Crouch; Phillip Short, a firefighter nominated by Baylie Sparkman; Chris Price, deputy sheriff nominated by Kendall Price; Eric Parker, a police officer nominated by Lucas Parker; Alex Smith, a veteran nominated by Lucas Smith; Amanda Cooner, a veteran and nurse nominated by Cade Pressley; Larry Shelton, a veteran nominated by Karsi Lentz; Jordan Guyse, a group leader for MFuge nominated by Maggie Guyse, Bob Peterson, a veteran nominated by Bryleigh Moore and the late Jantzen Frazier, a veteran and firefighter nominated by Elli Lorance.

Fifth grade history teacher Brooke Tankersley said the Super Citizen Program was very beneficial and exciting to the students.

“They have learned a lot about what it means to be a super citizen and patriotism,” Tankersley said. “It’s been very moving. They have been taking the program very seriously, and they are starting to realize what some people give up for us to have the life that we have.”