For students in the southwest Missouri city of Joplin, the end of the school year rings triumph and a true soldiering spirit. “We made it,” said Dr. C.J. Huff, superintendent of Joplin Schools, in a phone interview hours before President Obama gave a commencement address at Joplin High graduation ceremony.
The people of Joplin made it through one of the greatest disasters to hit the nation in the summer of 2011, on May 22 when an EF-5 tornado destroyed the town. The tornado, as wide as a small lake, turned at over 200 mph for 13 miles. The destruction was unimaginable—161 lives were lost and entire towns were flattened.
“It’s been a challenging year. Our students and our families have just been remarkable this year and our kids have shown so much these last 12 months. I’m just very proud of the work that they’ve done to overcome some very challenging obstacles this school year,” said Huff.
Joplin’s only high school, Joplin High, was completely destroyed. The community spent the summer of 2011 rushing to get temporary school buildings ready by the first day of the new school year. More than 3,200 students now go to school in temporary buildings.
