Students work cleaning sidewalks during a community service day.

Hickman County Middle School students all turned out in late April to work around Clinton and Columbus on public works projects. The work day was the culmination of a year long program called "Leader in Me".

The Leader in Me initiative is based on author Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

Hickman County School Community Resourses Director Beverly Hopkins said "Our middle school students have been involved all year long learning each of the 7 habits and how to effectively use them in their lives at home and school.

As a school we are utilizing these habits to help embed those soft skills that students need to be successful in life. As part of our curriculum and practice of the 7 habits, we are having our students, participate in a work base community service project in the community to solidify the learning of the 7 habits."

Students cleaned sidewalks in the community, picked up trash along the highways, helped the Master Gardeners, worked at two local nursing homes, ICF (Intermediate Care Facility) and Clinton Place, the Hickman Co. Senior Center, Hickman Co. Judges Office, Hickman Co. Memorial Library, First Baptist Church, Heartfelt Connection, a building used for Sunday evening church services and at Columbus Park.