KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgCalifornia university honors Will Norton

Reported August 26, 2011 at 12:05 PM CST:  Chapman University in California honors a would-be student from Joplin who died in the May 22 tornado.

Will Norton was on his way home from his high school graduation when the storm hit.  His body was later found in a pond.

Norton had planned to attend film school at Champan University.  Yesterday, Norton was honored at a ceremony for incoming freshmen.

His name is also now inscribed on the Wall of Student Honor at the school.

Reported August 19, 2011 at 6:14PM CST:  Today would have been Will Norton's 19th birthday.  Norton was a local YouTube sensation who was on his way home from his high school graduation when he was killed in the May 22 tornado. - Visit Norton's "Wildabeast" YouTube page

"I wish he was on his way to Orange, California to attend film school at Chapman University," says Bruce Vanderhoof, the television production teacher for Joplin High School.  "I wish Will could have experienced that because he would have excelled in that environment and I'm just sorry for Will and his family that he didn't get the chance to experience that and move on to the West Coast and kind of show off something we have all known for years."

On Wednesday, the first day of school, Mr. Vanderhoof says he took the initiative to talk about the death of his former student.

"I think we needed to do that - I needed it and I think the kids did too," Mr. Vanderhoof says.  "We just sat around and told Will Norton stories and we looked at videos that Will did and I think that's important to do that, not only the first day of school but throughout the entire school year to keep his memory alive."

In the months since his death, Will's parents say they are happy to hear good things about their son, and in talking with his teachers and friends they have nothing but good things to say.

"It's hard not to smile when you think about Will, there's so many stories," says Mr. Vanderhoof, who describes Will as "the happiest guy in the world, always positive attitude, always willing to help in any way he could, and just the ideal 18 year old at the time.  He meant so much to the class and the school."

"Every time I have to say the name 'Will Norton' I have to smile because Will was just that type of guy," says Kristi McGowen, the school's business teacher.  "In his yearbook I put 'Go out and make a big impact on the world - Mrs. McGowan', and when I found out he had died and so many people were on the Facebook page and he did make a big impact on the world and I know he knows he did, but little did I know after I signed his yearbook a couple weeks later that he wouldn't be around to know how proud I am of him."  Visit the Help Find Will Norton Facebook page

"If you were having a bad day and Will walked in the room somehow you were having a better day because no matter what mood you were in, when you see Will it really does just brighten your day," says Mr. Vanderhoof.  "That's the truth and that's the thing I loved about Will was his personality.  And I just loved our daily conversations we had and that was something I really got used to - never took for granted and looked forward to seeing Will everyday."

"His cousin that works here at the school brought me this bracelet this morning and honestly it's what I needed today, today being Will's birthday," says Mrs. McGowan.  "I thought about him last night.  I changed my Facebook picture to a picture from a school trip and it really has made my day and it's a little reminder of him all the time."

Will's friends say coping with the loss of their dear friend has included a lot of crying, even some denial, but they know he is in a better place.

"Will is probably the friendliest person I have ever met," says student Chloe Hadley.  "He always knew what to say to make you smile".  "He was nice to everybody.  He would always smile and wave at you in the hall.  He never - he always included everybody - he never let anyone sit in the corner.  So I think that's what touched everybody is how friendly and how loving Will was."

"What I am going to miss the most is - picking one thing is hard - but the most I'm going to miss how funny he was and he was just, every time you see him, every time you talk to him, it was hard not to smile and he just kept everyone laughing the entire time and I'm really going to miss that," says student Olivyah Parker.  "It's weird, especially going into TV Production, because that's where I met him and that's where I saw him every day.  There's a plaque on the wall that has pictures of Will and it's hard to see that every day because it reminds you that he's not here and he's not coming back."

"He's up there watching down on us and I know his heart is breaking because he sees our hearts breaking for him," says Parker.  "We just have to remember how special he is, how great of a life he has right now."

Reported June 6, 2011 at 11:10 PM CST:  Will Norton was one of those who lost their lives in the May 22 tornado.  He was on his way home from his high school graduation when the storm hit.