The Best Prom Ever and The Best Prom Ever’s Fall Dance are a service learning project that is planned and executed by Renne Wyman’s MiCI (Mildly Cognitively Impaired) program. On a daily basis, our students tackle operating the High School Spirit Store, the Yogurt Stop, and recycling program. In addition, they complete class work in reading, money, math, spelling and vocabulary. They order stock,
run register, manage, handle money, run machines, train each other, and perhaps the most important skill: they learn to problem-solve when things go catawampus. Her goal always is to help her students acquire real world skills. The money earned is poured back into other service projects such as the fall dance and the Best Prom Ever. The Best Prom Ever started when a former student asked the question, “Why can’t I go to the Prom? Am I not good enough?” That student’s mother contacted Renne, her son’s teacher. Soon after, her class was planning a special needs prom. This prom is open to all special needs people, high-school-age and older. It gives all special needs people a chance to experience a quintessential High School event in a safe, accepting environment where they can be themselves, ticks and all. Our students handle the complex task of putting on a wedding-like event. They decide on everything: The theme, creating decorations, deciding the menu, recruiting volunteers, emailing and phoning volunteers and guests, and contacting the vendors who provide services. Like all good projects, it didn’t end there. What started out as twenty students and a DJ has blossomed into an evening with a catered dinner, dance, balloons, gift bags, limo rides, and photo booth; all at no cost to the guests. Many volunteers and sponsors make this event happen, but the cost this year alone was still $10,000.00. Last spring, the Best Prom Ever was a magical evening for 421 special needs adults from all over West Michigan and over 200 volunteers. This fall’s Best Prom Ever’s Fall Dance, which is usually around 100-200 students, reached an amazing 370 guests and 100 volunteers. With better media coverage and our students taking to www.facebook/bestpromever.org, our website, bestpromever.org, and our youtube channel: bestpromever.org, we are anticipating 700 or more special needs guests. Preparation is already under way for April 18, 2015. The event will remain open to anyone adult and teen with disabilities who comes and at no cost to them. Renne truly believes that no one, who wants to come, should be turned away. In all honesty, it is a massive undertaking for both the teaching staff and students, not to mention the community. Why do we do it? When you see the look on the faces of our guests and volunteers, you know that it’s worth it.
