A group of Taylor High School students observed a Day of Service at Down Home Ranch on April 20, to mark the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. The effort was led by THS counselor and Columbine graduate, Laurie Morris.
Although Morris graduated from Columbine High School 11 years before the tragedy, she describes the tremendous impact the event had on those who were a part of the Columbine community.
“The teacher that died, Dave Sanders, was my typing teacher my senior year,” Morris said. “One of the girls who died was the younger sister of one of my brother’s friends. My father was a police officer for the department that responded to the scene first, and my mother worked for a bank a few miles from the school. Whether we were there or thousands of miles away, that event tremendously impacted those who were part of the Columbine community.”
Morris said that for the last several years on April 20, people in the Columbine community have held a day of service to mark the anniversary of the tragedy. Last year, she coordinated an event at the Taylor American Legion Hall to start a tradition of service on that day in the Taylor community. This year she took a group of students to Down Home Ranch.
“A big part of my reason for participating in the Day of Service is to engage in something positive in response to the tragedy,” said Morris. “I have a unique opportunity in working with high school students to be able to talk to kids about Columbine in a personal way. I can talk with them about how they can make a difference and help create an environment where students feel safe at school.”
