Honorable Mention - Elementary
Oakdale School, Oklahoma City

How do you make a great community better? Have a tornado hit it! No, that's not the best idea, but when the May tornado struck Oakdale School and surrounding area, it seemed to be what happened. The people from the school, churches, neighborhoods, and businesses all worked together to rebuild so our students and their families could continue to live, learn, work, pray, and play once more.

The tornado destroyed the sanctuary of Witcher Baptist Church, the only place of worship in our community. While they rebuilt their sanctuary, it only made sense the congregation continue worship services in our cafetorium.

Not long after the tornado made its way through our community, we had volunteers at the school sharing flashlights and work gloves so we could dig through the rubble to try to save our school records and student files. In the following days, parents brought food and water for all of us, and for the team from FEMA. The students came as well to lend a hand or just to give teachers hugs and moral support. Mardel Book Store sent us teaching materials. Wal-Mart gave us crayons, pencils, and markers. They knew our pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grades had nothing left, and we needed everything! Other schools around the state sent us letters of support. Wellston School sent us money for a new flag. Even schools out-of-state heard about our plight and responded. Due to our sharing a common school name, an Oakdale School in Ohio felt a kinship with us and sent us money for library books.

We missed only one day of school. Because the building housing our lower grades was destroyed in the tornado, those teachers and students moved in with the ones at the upper grades building. We had classes in the cafeteria, hallways, and any other unused space. Students from the kindergarten through eighth grade were excited about being together under one roof. We were one big, crowded, but happy family!

Although it was not our first tornado, it was our worst. Our "old gym" with its unique, historic ceiling and enduring memories, was severely threatened this time, and FEMA recommended tearing it down. But due to an overwhelming neighborhood outcry, it was saved! The old gym's survival, perhaps above all else, represents the spirit, thought, and work that went into restoring life here.

We were always a close community, but sometimes we don't realize how much everyone cares and what we've got until it's nearly taken away. A devastating event of this kind can act as a great equalizer. It puts everyone on the same level and then gives us all the same goal - to rebuild, to put back what was lost, and to make it even better.