Scholarship given in honor of two children who died in Vilonia tornado

VILONIA, Ark. – Cameron Smith was 9 years old and Tyler Smith was 7 years old when the 2014 Vilonia tornado took their life. Their family and friends every year since have honored one Vilonia student with a scholarship in their honor.

Heather Burkle reflects on the day that changed her family’s life forever.

“It was very traumatic, and it was very sad,” Burkle said.

It has been nearly 10 years since that very day.

“I’ve seen God restore everything back to my sister piece by piece and our family is stronger,” Burkle said.

Vilonia resident reflects on day EF-4 tornado tore through his home

Burkle’s family for now 10 years gives a scholarship to a Vilonia High School senior in honor of her nephews.

“They have to write an essay about a time in their life where they had to push through something that was very hard for them,” Burkle said.

Burkle says it’s their way of creating beauty from ashes, a phrase the family has held tight to for a decade now.

However, this year’s scholarship is even more special, as the recipient is someone that helped Burkle get through a tough time in her life.

“I went through the Harbor Home for Women, and the scholarship that’s being given today, is a boy whose mom worked at the Harbor Home for Women,” Burkle said.

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She says it is a full circle moment, only one that God can create, and she’s thankful for every step forward they’ve taken since.

“God’s walked us through everything and it’s been very beautiful where we’re at today,” Burkle said.

She says next year would have been Tyler’s graduation year, and they’ll continue the scholarship next year and every year after that.

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