Students feeling like royalty

By Millie Diaz Managing Editor     

Two strings of lights with red carpet met prom-goers attending the Jackson County Special Services Cooperative first-ever prom on April 28. A sign-in book with a basket of corsages and glittery fairy dust were handed out and two photo booths were set up to preserve the candid memories between the special needs students, their family and friends.     

Amber Stansberry, JCSSC director, said the idea for a prom came from a parent with several students in the program. “The family had attended one in Columbus and wanted to bring it to the county and we thought it was a great idea. We had a meeting with some families who were interested in putting together the event and we had so many people help I feel like the JCSSC didn’t have to do much.”     

The student’s smiles showed the story of a happy Saturday afternoon disguised as a Saturday night in the EJHS Cafeteria. Samantha and Jeff Gerdes, Sharon Carroll and Cindy Unger constructed an area for photos; one with a chandelier over a small table and chairs, while the other had silly masks of mustaches, sunglasses and furry boas.

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