The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Brandon Iwamoto Junior communication studies major Michele Hynes, center, dances with fellow volunteers and patients at the Respite Care facility at 6203 Lemay Ave. on Saturday for the CSUnity service project. The volunteers helped decorate the facility's gymnasium and atrium to put on a prom for developmentally challenged teenagers.

On Saturday, about 20 local students dressed in sharp black tuxedos and glittering gowns walked into a medieval castle, followed an entryway accented by purple and yellow shields and stepped into their high school prom.

And while for most teenagers prom is guaranteed right of passage, for those who are developmentally challenged, like those who attended Saturday's celebrations, it was an unexpected moment to remember.

"Just seeing the joy not just on the kids' faces but on their parents' faces as well is just so amazing," said Keith Colton, coordinator for Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement.

Colton, who helped set up the prom and organize Saturday's university-wide community service project CSUnity, said that most of the parents who dropped their children off at the Respite Care Center for disabled students thought their children would never have the chance to go to prom.

Throughout Saturday morning CSU students from Associated Students of CSU, the College of Business Management Club and the Colorado Business Alumni group gathered at the Respite Care Center in Fort Collins to help set up for the event. They joined with Thank Goodness Its Friday to execute the evening's celebrations.

Members of TGIF, a branch of SLiCE designed to connect local special needs high school students with CSU students, were responsible for designing and executing the dance. TGIF members frequently go out on Friday nights with their special needs friends and enjoy local entertainment such as bowling or going to the movies.

TGIF members provided their "dates" with a corsage or a boutonniere, later traversing to a smaller room set up for taking the ever-so-memorable prom picture.

The decorations surrounding the Respite Care Center reflected the theme: Enchanted Knights. With the help of CSU students, the center was transformed into a medieval castle with pseudo-firelights lining the entranceway and purple and yellow shields hanging from the walls.

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