Posted on 03/07/2016 5:30:34 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
RED WING, Minn. - Asking someone to prom always has the potential for drama, but in Red Wing this weekend a special surprise invite to the big spring dance triggered widespread smiles and tears of joy.
The idea to have eighth-grader Lucas Martin ask freshman Erica Quandt started with the paraprofessionals that help the two special education students on a daily basis. Kelsey Bystrom and Natalie Littfin had noticed a friendship growing between the two since they met last summer, and came up with the idea of helping them go on a prom date. Kelsey and Natalie went to their boss, Red Wing special education teacher Jamie Johnholtz, and found she was as excited about the idea as they were.
Next question.... how to do it? Lucas is non-verbal, so a plan was hatched to help him ask Erica. The teachers and students who have taken a special interest in the two decided to stage the invite at a casual thing the high school does every Friday morning, where students get together in the cafeteria to listen to music and talk. A student came up with the idea of enlisting members of the boy's basketball team to join other students in wearing t-shirts to spell out "Erica Prom?" They were standing behind Lucas, holding roses as Erica entered the cafeteria in her wheelchair. The cherry on the sundae? Playing in the background was Garth Brooks, Erica's favorite.
She said yes, and there was barely a dry eye in the house.
Johnholtz says it was nothing short of amazing to see the idea take root with two special paraprofessionals, and then spread like wildfire with everyone from staff and students jumping on board to invest in the lives of these special students. "This makes every day we're here worth it," she told KARE 11.
And the story doesn't stop with the invite. Lucas and Erica's parents have both signed off on allowing their community to follow the kids as they shop for a dress and a tuxedo, and prepare for night that is the stuff teenage dreams are made of. It underlines that despite their challenges, Erica and Lucas are typical in many ways, and their community wants them to succeed. The journey will be captured on a Instagram account set up specially for Lucas and Erica.
A footnote to an already great story: The senior basketball players who took part in the invite woke up early to help on a day that may have been the most important in their sports careers. The Wingers had lost three straight section finals, and they were scheduled to take on rival Northfield Friday night with a trip to the state tournament hanging in the balance.
No one can be sure if the inspirational invite motivated the senior-heavy squad, but the Wingers went on to beat Northfield 67-51 and will now pursue a state championship for Red Wing.
Some pictures at the link. I just wish there was a video to go along with the story.
Enjoy!
It doesn’t get any better than this..................
Tears in my eyes ...
Great story.
Thanks...Great story, God bless them all.
Gotta love small town kids.
Found a video...
http://video.startribune.com/red-wing-basketball-team-helps-with-prom-proposal/371291341/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.