Obama: Joplin Graduate's Triumph Exemplifies City's Journey

(Joplin, MO) -- On the eve of the one year anniversary of the Joplin tornado, President Barack Obama visited Joplin to participate in the graduation ceremony at Joplin High School after a trying year for the community.

Obama addressed the 431 Joplin High School graduates and hundreds of family members during the ceremony, which took place on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

Video: President Obama's Joplin Address Part One
Video: President Obama's Joplin Address Part Two

The president focused a portion of his speech on Quinton Anderson, a Joplin graduate who sustained severe injuries in the tornado, which took the lives of both his parents.

"Quinton's journey has been Joplin's journey," President Obama said.

After five weeks of treatment, Anderson recovered and went on to be the high school football captain, even though he could not play. And after the year of trial, Anderson expects to go on to study molecular biology at Harding University.

"Quinton has said that his motto in life is 'Always take that extra step,'" Obama said. "Today, after a long and improbable journey for Quinton, for Joplin, and for the entire class of 2012, that extra step is about to take you towards whatever future you hope for; toward whatever dreams you hold in your hearts."

The storm killed 161 in total, including six students -- two from the high school -- and one faculty member.

The May 22 storm took place just minutes after students finished the 2011 commencement ceremony, catching many residents on their way home from graduation.

Ten schools were damaged in the tornado, forcing administrators to scramble over the summer to find buildings.

For high school juniors and seniors, the school district settled on an abandoned shopping mall store. Spaces that once held sales racks of clothing were renovated into what architects called a "21st century" school design. Gone were the lockers and stuffy halls of their former school, and in were laptops and moveable walls.

Monday night's graduation ceremony was personal, with students reflecting with humor and perspective on their tumultuous school days and one administrator leading them in a chant to show their "Eagle pride."

"No matter where you are or what you do, your Joplin family loves you and believes in you," said school district Superintendent C.J. Huff, fighting back tears. "We are so very proud of you."

Obama alluded to students' unique struggles during his own commencement address, which was held on the campus of Missouri Southern State University. He referred, too, to broader challenges facing they their townsfolk to work together, dream big and remain positive in adopting a new slogan of "Remember. Rejoice. And rebuild."

"We can define our own lives not by what happens to us, but by how we respond," said the president, who returned to Joplin for the first time since attending a memorial service a week after the disaster.

"We can choose to carry on, we can choose to make a difference in the world. And in doing so, we can make true what's written in scripture: that 'tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance (produces) character, and character, hope.'"

Obama traveled to Joplin last May 29 and spoke at a memorial service on the Missouri Southern State University campus. At the service he pledged "your country will be there with you every single step of the way."

The tornado did heavy damage to Joplin Senior High School, which has since been torn down. A former shopping mall was converted into a school and several other schools that suffered damage from the storm are occupying other vacant commercial buildings and warehouses.

Students say they're honored to have the president come all the way to Joplin for their special night.

"I feel really special that the not only that Joplin is my hometown, but also that the president cares enough to come to our graduation," says Lexi Willcoxon, senior. "I think it will be really exciting and a lot of memories and a lot of pictures will be taken."

Joplin Schools Communications Officer Kelli Price says graduation had been scheduled for Sunday, May 20, but was moved to the 21st to accommodate the President's schedule, which had a conflict with the G-8 Summit.

"I'm just very thankful that he's taken the time to come to address us," says student Brad White. "When he came here last time, he said that he was going to come back and he's making his promise, so it's pretty awesome."

"This will be something they remember for a long time, so I'm very excited they get this opportunity," says teacher Lacey Santillan.

While Joplin has worked fast to rebuild, many of the hundreds of businesses destroyed by the tornado have not been able to get back to full speed. Some 332 households still live in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers and are unable to rebuild their homes.

But they've gotten some help. The White House released a statement Monday noting the federal government has approved $21 million for directly affected Missouri residents, not including $97 million to the state of Missouri to support rebuilding projects and $41.3 million in low-interest disaster loans via the U.S. Small Business Administration for individuals, businesses and non-profit groups.

And the city of Joplin -- which is calling Tuesday's anniversary a Day of Unity, with events including a commemorative walk through the city -- estimates that almost 130,000 volunteers have logged hundreds of thousands of hours since the tornado.

It was during his remarks about community and unity that Obama shifted from discussing Joplin more exclusively, to talking about the nation in general.

"We need God. We need each other. We are important to each other. And we're stronger together than we are on our own," he said. "That's the spirit that's allowing all of you to rebuild this city. It's the same spirit we need right now to help rebuild America."

The Joplin High graduates are particularly qualified to do so, according to Obama. They have walked the walk -- by pitching in to assist their neighbors, pursuing their education despite the chaos around them and learning from other city citizens and total strangers about what people can do, against the odds, when they work together.

"Some of life's strongest bonds are the ones we forge when everything around us seems broken," the president said. "And even though I expect some of you will ultimately end up leaving Joplin, I'm convinced that Joplin will never leave you."

KOLR10 will broadcast a live, one-hour Joplin Remembered special Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. It will be rebroadcast on KOZL-27 on Tuesday from 8-9 p.m.