EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo — Orrick teens are still shaken from a tornado that ripped through their town last week. But luckily a celebration thrown by a nearby town took their minds off of it.
“You just start to break down,” graduate Ethan Tonepahote said.
Tonepahote and the rest of his senior class weren’t sure where they would graduate.
“I grew up in those halls. I played in that gym. I was sad,” Tonepahote said.
But then word spread that a neighboring town had a plan. Excelsior Springs High School opened their doors to the class of 2014 from Orrick High School.
“It kind of tears you up inside. It’s such a feeling of pride for her and I didn’t expect any less for this town,” parent Brenda Brown said.
Senior speakers gave speeches similar to those you’d hear at any graduation, with one exception. They spoke of how their class had made it through a storm and made it out Orrick strong.
“It’s just made me a stronger person. Seeing these people come together and rebuild a town,” he said.
