September 10, 2010

News Update

Shepton students honor 9/11 hero

Kim Williams / Staff Photo - Lt. Joe Torrillo addressed students from Shepton High School Sept. 10. He retired from the New York Fire Department because of injuries he suffered after being buried under debris from the collapse of the twin towers.

By Kim Williams, kwilliams@acnpapers.com

Published: Friday, September 10, 2010 5:09 PM CDT

It might be easy to say everyone remembers what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, but for some students, the reality is distant in time and place.

Shepton High School brought memories of that horrific day to the students as retired New York firefighter Lt. Joe Torrillo spoke Friday at a hero celebration. Torrillo shared the story of his experience during the 9/11 tragedy, emphasizing bravery and strength of character.

Hero Day is now an annual event at Shepton, and the day has a different focus each year. Emphasis for this year’s hero program began during the celebration last year, when math teacher Kathy LaPlant explained the events surrounding 9/11 to her students in class.

Kim Williams / Staff Photo - The Andrea family orchestrated efforts to get the Shepton High School Hero Day banner from last year hanging in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York. Pictured left to right are Christina Andrea, Lt. Joe Torrillo, Adam Andrea and Rudy Andrea.

“Last year our wonderful cheerleading squad participated in welcoming home troops from Iraq at DFW airport during the summer, and when they returned to Shepton they decided they wanted to do more to honor those that we consider heroes in our lives,” said Shepton Principal Burt Smith. “With that inspiration, Hero Day was born.”

The discussion inspired them to think about the heroes in their lives. Honoring Flight 93 passengers as heroes, they created a large banner that was signed by the students with personal or special messages.

The banner now hangs in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York. The museum is a private nonprofit organization responsible for oversight of the design and raising the necessary funds, programming and operating the memorial and museum being built at the World Trade Center site.

National and local heroes were both in attendance at the celebration, with Torrillo representing the nation and Smith standing as Shepton’s own hero, as he makes a difference in the students’ lives. Smith has been named Principal of the Year and recognized as the outstanding secondary school principal of Region 10 by the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals which includes Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall counties and some of Van Zandt and Henderson counties.

“Heroes represent the ideals of integrity, honesty, loyalty, selflessness, courage, honor, compassion for others and respect, along with many other positive character traits, and we want to promote these ideals throughout our campus as a way to prepare our students to be successful and make positive, lasting contributions to our society,” Smith said. “My hope for our students is that by participating in Hero Day they will be as inspired as our cheerleaders were to take action to make our world a better place, whether that is through honoring heroes, helping a neighbor, volunteering at a nonprofit agency, or any other selfless act of kindness or generosity,” Smith said. “I also hope our students realize just how blessed we are to live in this wonderful nation of ours, and that they gain an appreciation for the great sacrifices many people have made to secure our freedom.”

This year one of the major focuses on the SHS campus is character education.

“We have several events planned to define and emphasize what character means and Hero Day is our kick-off event,” Smith said. “Our students have spent the past week reflecting on who their personal heroes are and then worked to create something to honor and celebrate the heroes in their lives.”

Hanging in the gymnasium on Friday were banners, posters, designed shirts, written letters and poems expressing their appreciation for their heroes.

“We are excited to have several honorary guests from the city of Plano and the Plano Independent School District attend our Hero Day assembly,” Smith said.

Shepton welcomed numerous special guests including Plano City Council members Jean Callison, Andre Davidson and Ben Harris, Plano Chief of Police Gregory Rushin, Plano Fire Chief Hugo Esparza, Plano ISD School Board Secretary Missy Bender, Plano ISD Area Assistant Superintendent Patty Meyer, PISD Board Trustee Carrolyn Moebius and Associate Superintendent for Academic and Technology Services Jim Hirsch.

Councilwoman Callison gave a short greeting to the students and welcomed Torrillo.

Student Adam Andrea introduced Torrillo.

“Adam and his parents, Rudy and Christina Andrea, traveled to New York City last year and delivered his class’ Hero Day banner honoring the passengers of United Flight 93 to the 9/11 Museum in New York City, where they met Lt. Torrillo,” Smith said. “His parents have made it possible for Lt. Torrillo to visit Shepton for our Hero Day celebration.”

Adam Andrea was proud to be able to bring Torrillo to speak to all of his peers.

“It’s an amazing feeling, having Lt. Torrillo here to speak to the kids in my school,” Andrea said. “I hope he can change lives of some of my classmates, because that what I want to do when I grow up, is work with people and change their lives.”

Andrea echoed what Torrillo spoke about to the assembly.

Retired after 25 years, Torrillo was able to share his life-changing experiences with others, and hoped his story will positively impact theirs.

He shared his life story in brief, talking about how to be a better person and implored the students to essentially live by the Golden Rule.

“You have to do your part,” Torrillo said. “You’re going to face a lot of hurdles along the way that you’re not prepared for, and no matter what, you still have to get through it and do the right thing—always treat people how want to be treated. Always try to be sensitive to people who may be struggling. Be fair to people. Reach out and make people feel like somebody.”

Torrillo explained that he never thought he would be a fireman when he was younger; he said he wanted to become a structural engineer. He used his story to describe another important life-lesson to listeners.

“You need to build a structure first, with goals and purpose,” Torrillo said. “Then you live within that structure, so when adverse things happen, you won’t fall apart. That is what being disciplined is all about. It’s not about punishment. It’s about being the best person you can be.”

Torrillo was one of the few people to survive the Sept. 11 tragedy. He was first buried by rubble from the South Tower, which was the second to be hit by a terrorist plane but the first to fall.

After about 20 minutes of being caught under the collapsed building, Torrillo’s heroes dug him out – but he was buried a second time by debris when the North Tower collapsed.

“I don’t even know how I am alive,” Torrillo said. “I was not expecting to live at all. But I’m here, and I am very thankful to those who saved my life.”

Torrillo was asked by a student in the audience who his heroes were, and he said it’s the people who do the right thing. He also said to always be mindful of the soldiers overseas.

“We need to remember the guys in the foxholes over there in Iraq,” Torrillo said. “Think about what they are going through and what they are doing for you right now.”

Torrillo closed by telling the students that they will never – and he will never – know personally the people who gave their lives on Sept. 11, but they should always be remembered.

“It’s your turn now,” Torrillo said. “What are you going to do to make this world a better place?”

Smith said that SHS is an amazing place with a great population of students and faculty.

“We have the best staff in the world, and they are committed to helping our students achieve success at the very highest levels,” Smith said. “As an example, this year our choir has been named one of the State Honor Choirs, a first for a school that has only ninth- and 10th-grade students on its campus.”

This is just one of many examples of the incredible students who attend Shepton High School, Smith said.

“A school can only be as successful as the partnership between its staff and parents, and that strong partnership is one of the main reasons our students excel in everything they do,” he said. “Our PTSA is extremely supportive and provides programming throughout the year for our parents, students and staff.”

It is obvious Smith takes pride in his campus, but he also praises the district.

“Plano ISD is the best school district in the state of Texas—period,” Smith said. “We have an outstanding school board, the most supportive central administration, outstanding teachers, highly motivated students and helpful and involved parents and community members. Our partnerships with the business community and the city of Plano alone make this the best city in Texas to live.”

“I want to thank Mr. Smith and commend him for being such a mover and shaker and being behind the Sept. 11 celebration and for believing in me,” Torillo said, “And that I can make a difference in his students’ lives.”

“It is a tremendous honor to listen to Lt. Torrillo’s story. It is just powerful,” said Esparza. “For us, it reinforces why we are firefighters and why we love our job.”