Scars from the Tornado (10 page)

STUDENT
COUNCIL FURNISHES CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS

BY
J
ENNIFER
N
GUYEN

The EF-5
tornado that ran through the southwestern Missouri town of Joplin might have
destroyed many of the town's businesses, schools, and homes, but there was one
element of the town against the storm that was indestructible, almost
untouchable. Yes, Joplin was not a very pretty sight after the raging winds of
the May 22nd tornado took course through the town, but the spirit of Joplin,
held deep inside each Joplin citizen, was still very much alive and in
sustainable condition. When the heart of America seemed torn and in pieces, who
was there to pick up the sections and patch them up again? The people. That's
what took immediate action after the mere minutes of destruction.

Seconds after
the treacherous clouds passed, Joplin citizens could be found scattered around
the many disheveled neighborhoods helping, simply just helping. Helping collect
personal items, helping treat injuries, basically helping with whatever needed
to be done. Hearts seemed to reach out to other hearts as members of the town
put others' needs before themselves. Neighbors helped neighbors, families
helped families, and friends helped foes. People helped people that they didn't
know, that they just met up the street. The list continues on and on. The sight
of this functioning, of the progression of help being offered was incredible
and tremendously heartwarming. Truth be told, this organization of helping is
what dragged Joplin out of the destructed, mourning phase and into a more
hopeful, rebuilding phase. All the help, including the huge help from out of
city volunteers, made a huge impact.
An impact that is still
being felt today due to the rebuilding of this once torn city.

While the
impact is being made, what must not be forgotten is who is making the impact
and who is contributing to it. Just as said before, volunteers contribute
greatly to the impact, but they're not the only ones.

Different
schools and organizations from all over the world have also been kindly generous
in their donations of different items needed for Joplin's citizens and care.
Joplin has not only received donations of money, but also clothes, toys, and
many other things used in everyday life. Most importantly, Joplin has received
a gift that can never be lost. Love. Joplin has received loads and loads of
love, care, and kindness in the months that have passed since the disaster. But
yet again, this is not all that has made the large impact. Citizens of Joplin
of all ages and sizes came together as a community and did different tasks and
certain small things that made all the difference. Together, these incredible
people charged through the destruction and found buried beneath it, the true
meaning of Joplin; a city that stands united as one even in the worst of time.

And that is
honestly one hundred percent true. Even in their time of desperate need and
sadness, Joplin stuck together and is continuing to do life-changing things for
the benefits of others. This act of pure
samaritanism
is displayed in operations of charity through schools and city organizations,
such as a program referred to as "Christmas 4 Kids" ran by the Joplin
East Middle School Student Council and Joplin Fire Department.

"Christmas
4 Kids" is a program in which money is raised to buy toys for kids that
are less fortunate. The Joplin Fire Department distributes these toys to the
children, and the money is raised and used to buy toys by the East Middle
School Student Council. Mr. Rocky
Biggers
, the
student council sponsor, has been running this program ever since he first took
charge of the student council, which would have been about fifteen years ago.
Some past fundraisers for this event have been running concession stands for
different after school activities, organizing car washes, working with
corporate sponsors, and even just asking for donations for this charitable
deed.

This year's
student council, however, had to change some of the plans intended for the
fundraising part of the cycle. Since East Middle School was demolished, or
somewhat damaged during the tornado, the students and faculty were moved to a
temporary building, former warehouse. The warehouse was designed to fit the
school's needs, but sporting events are not held at the temporary building,
meaning that concession stands are no longer available or needed. Much of the
past student council's money came from working the concession stands, but since
this was no longer a fundraising option, other ideas and projects had to be put
into action in order to make up the money usually raised by the stands.
Thankfully, a donation of nine hundred dollars was given to the student council
from a hair salon in Texas. This money, along with what was raised from a
student council sponsored dance and small fundraisers, helped buy tons of toys
for tons of kids.

After all that
has been done for Joplin, the East Middle School Student Council felt that it
should give back to the community by continuing this heartfelt event. Since the
tragic tornado, everything was handed to them, and they wanted to return the
favor. One of Mr.
Biggers
' favorite parts of the
event is watching the students shop for toys. He commented that they really
take it to heart and try to stretch the dollar as far as they can to satisfy
the many children counting on them for toys.

The impact
made on these children is unknown for confidentiality reasons, but every year,
the East Middle School Student Council can expect a phone call from the Joplin
Fire Department asking them to continue this beneficial tradition. Not only
does it benefit the children, but it also benefits Joplin's community as a
whole; because, what is Joplin without its people?

ACADEMIC
ALL-STARS HONORED

East Middle
School Academic All-Stars were honored during November ceremonies at College
Heights Christian School.

In the past,
the ceremonies have been held at Joplin High School, which was destroyed by the
May 22 tornado.

Students who
received advanced or proficient scores during the MAP tests last spring were
honored.

Highlights of
the ceremony included the presentation of a $1,000 scholarship to eighth grader
Casandra
Williams, speeches by St. John's CEO Gary
Pulsipher
and Missouri Southern State University President
Bruce Speck, and the presentation of certificates to students from East Middle
School and
Duenweg
/Duquesne,
Eastmorland
,
Kelsey Norman, and McKinley elementary schools.

Missouri
Southern State University President Bruce Speck presented a $1,000 scholarship
to East Middle School eighth grader
Casandra
Williams
at the conclusion of the annual Academic All-Star celebration held Monday night
at College Heights Christian School.

Miss Williams'
name was randomly selected from the Academic
AllStar
list. To qualify for Academic All-Stars, students had to score in either the
advanced or proficient levels during the 2011 MAP tests.

East students
who qualified for Academic All-Stars are listed below:

EIGHTH
GRADE

Damian Abrams,
Meggi
Augustofsky
,
Taran
Augustofsky
,
Jaylon
Baert
, Maggie Baker, Natal
Bay, Anna Blue, Jonah Caldwell, Mercedes Cardenas,
Caden
Carlin, Harrison Carpenter, Adam
Cavaness
, Zachary
Cavaness
, Darin Clark, Elijah
Cornman
,
Michael Crouch, Lorenzo Dailey, Marcus
Damrill
,
Jackson
Divilbiss
,
Aubrie
England, Ethan
Fannan
,
Tajee
Fantroy
-Arrington, Madeline
Fichtner
,
Mason
Finnell
, Willow
FrazierCrow
,
Edward Garcia, Bailey Gardner, Haden
Garten
,
Christopher
Geier
, Donovan Graham, Keisha
Grunden
, Mackenzie Gunderson, Desiree Hawkins, Amy
Hembree
, Jayden
Hetiback
, Megan
Hickey,
Kagan
Hoffman, Ethan
Holz
,
Tristen
Howell, Kylie
Howerton
,
Kara Hulsey, Serena Hunt,
Abigael
Killinger
,
Amy Koch, Ethan
Kraner
, Gabrielle Logan-Downey,
Shyann
Long, Janet Lopez,
Elimo
Lounis
, Cara Marshall, Ashton
McGehee
,
Madison
Meinhardt
, Christi Montgomery,
Kaley
Moser, Stella
Ndauwa
,
Jennifer Nguyen, Dakota Osborn,
Kiah
Poulson
, Abigail Randall, Jillian
Rentfro
,
Faith Reynolds,
Callah
Riff, Molly Ritter,
Treyton
Rowden
,
Alexa
Ruddick, Miranda Sanders, Justin
Schweickert
,
Bryce
Schwarting
, Alexis Shields, Evan
Shofler
, Courtney
Shryock
,
Jakob
Simrell
, William Sinclair,
Aiden Stahl, Casey Stewart, Austen Still Amelia Street, Annie
Strickling
, Jamie Sullivan,
Quionte
Tidwell, James Tupper, Tyler
Viles
, Jesse Walls,
Karly
Weber, Shelby
Welton
,
Alyssa
Wescoat
, Logan Whitehead, James
Willerton
,
Casandra
Williams,
Ishman
Wilson,
Kaitlynne
Wilson,
Katelynne
Yonkers

SEVENTH
GRADE

Melinda Adams,
Sophie All good, Ryan Ball, Megan Black, Jerry Bland, Lisa Boykin, Austin
Brand, Michaela Brewer, Anthony Burton, Mynah Campbell, Angelia Cape hart,
Jordan Case, Anastasia Cline, Caitlyn Collins, Elijah Conner, Nichole Cox,
Clayton Croat, Lilly
Curtsinger
, Emalia Dailey,
Tristan Danielson, Brittany Davis,
Melanee
Day,
Taylor
Detter
, Elizabeth
Dulinsky
,
Matthew Dumas,
MacKenzie
Dunn, Brittany Dutton,
Jackson
Earll
, Amber Fleming, Joseph Fry, Tyler
Green, Lydia Greenwood,
Ashlyn
Griffberg
,
Zane Grimes, Audrey Hampton, Sean Harrison,
Shae
Hogan, Joshua Hulsey,
Katelynn
Hurrell
,
Dakotah
Hutchens, Bridget Ingham, Lucas
Jobes
,
Caeli
Johnson, Faith
Jones,
Makayla
Keene, Chloe
Konwinski
,
Cierra
Kosilla
, Annie Le,
Dorothy Lee,
Bailee
Lewis, Quincy Logan,
Kateri
Mace-Canterbury, Alexia
Maturino
,
Aubrey McIntosh, Alexandra
Monasco
,
Desirae
Orlaski
, Jessica Pal,
Brooke Parker,
Mycah
Parker, Benjamin Perkins, Thomas
Reynolds, Madison Riddle, Taylor Robinson, Kendrick
Rooker
,
Othellis
Roper, Grace Roush, Lydia
Routledge
, Abigail Russell, Camden Sanders, Carissa Scalia,
William
Schwarzenberger
, Sierra Schweitzer, Nicholas
Shellenbarger
, Kerry
Stadler
,
Tyler Stanley, Justine Staten, Victoria
Stehm
,
Alexandra
Stelts
, Jade
Sterken
,
Taylor Sullivan,
Ieane
Suskey
,
Ilah
Wallace, Amy
Walser
,
Jacy
Welch, Michaela West,
Andrielle
Wilson, Cory Wilson,
Keithen
Wolf

SIXTH
GRADE

Nicholas
Abrams, Harris Allen, Donald Archer, James
Ardrey
,
Ambie
Armstrong,
Madyson
Barber,
Kristian
Bethel, Jerrod
Bivens
,
Lilliana
Black, Matthew Black,
Kody
Blevins, Madison Boyer, Kathryn Brown, William Burden,
Stoney
Burleson, Corbin Chaffin,
Christal
Comstock,
Sydni
Cornman
, Xavier
Cottle
, McKenzie Crouch, Elijah Curtis, Lucas Danner,
McKinley Davis, James Freed,
Ashtyn
Friend,
Eryn
Garcia, Brandon
Garten
,
Katelyn
Gilbreth
, Virginia
Gormely
Heater, Bailey
Greninger
,
Kayley
Hall, John Hardin, Brianna Hickey, Chad Hudspeth, Robert Ingram, Sara
Iseli
, Drake Johnston, Zachary Kennedy, Miriam Kissinger,
Ashley King, Elizabeth
Kingery
, Abigail Lewis,
Hailee
LoganDowney
, Daniel
Miller, Landon Moore, Bobby Murphy, Trace Myers, Anna Nguyen, Jordan Nguyen,
Breanna
Pace,
Kiara
Patton,
Elizabeth Peterson, Noah
Pinjuv
, Chloe
Poulson
,
Kimber
Powell, Gage
Schemer, Jarod
Schwarzenberger
, Alexander
Seeman
, Emma Simon, Carson Smith,
Mikayla
Soard
, Landon Sturgis, Austin
Tallent
,
Nicole Tate, Nicholas Taylor, Amber Thornton, Ethan
Vang
,
Cydney
Vickers, Amber White,
Faithlyn
Whitehead, Emma
Willerton
, Thomas Williams,
Cian
WilsonKeeler
, Jacob
Yarnell