Tower Challenge at Texarkana College honors 9/11 first responders

TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — 2071 steps, that’s what it would have taken to climb the 101 floors of the twin towers.

“I think that 9/11 should be something that’s remembered for effort and for courage,” said Texarkana College professor John Hubbard.

He was one of a few dozen who participated in the Tower Challenge hosted on campus. The challenge invited people to match the journey many first responders took as they tried to save lives on September 11, 2001. Even if it is impossible to match what they really went through that day.

“Honestly, I had moments where I was thinking about them having on all this extra equipment and the heat and the adrenaline flowing through your body. It doesn’t compare to that moment,” said Brian Briggs, a student who participated in the challenge.

The challenge attempts to honor their sacrifice in some small way, and for some, it can even serve as a way to gain a new perspective on that day. Many students simply see the terror attack as a historical event instead of an event that holds emotional impact.

“I think it’s kind of a reality check for a lot of our students that weren’t around in 2001. I think that they are able to better understand what these first responders went through and the fact that they were climbing the floors, while others were leaving,” said Sean Daniel, a student recruiter who helped organize the event along with the Student Government Association and the Pinkerton Center.

This is only the second year that Texarkana College has held this event, and they hope to see more and more participation as the new tradition continues.