Spring Break
Students volunteer for second special populations prom
Brittani McNeill
Issue date: 3/31/09 Section: News
Saturday night at 6:30 p.m., the ECU Ambassadors hosted the second annual Special Populations Prom at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pitt County. The event was an opportunity for individuals, who may not have had an opportunity to attend dances or proms, to experience an event that is often a milestone in a teenager's life.
However, the event was not limited to high school students. The Special Populations Prom is held for special population members of Pitt County of all ages, and each person was allowed to bring two guests. ECU Ambassador Leslie Wheeler proposed the idea of hosting the prom, after volunteering at a similar event in her hometown.
"When I got to Pitt County and started working and going to school, I realized that special needs people were a population that our university does not serve," she said.
"We serve at-risk kids and all other kinds of people, but other than Special Olympics, we don't do much for [the special needs population]."
Wheeler said that the purpose of the event was to give this population a social event outside of the holiday parties hosted by the Olympics.
"[It's] just for them to have a night that they can be social and enjoy themselves and feel like they are special," Wheeler said.
"They do a lot of Special Olympics activities but they don't have many social activities except for the Christmas and Valentine's Day parties."
The theme for the prom was "Capture the Dream."
"This [theme] ensures that all attending -- high school age and older individuals with physical and mental disabilities -- will feel that they can capture any dream they have," the ECU Ambassadors organization said in a press release.
"The theme brings the excitement of the upcoming Special Olympics to life. Guests will feel as if they have been transported to Beijing and the opening ceremonies."
The prom was free and many volunteers and donations helped make the event a success. Wheeler said help from the community, sponsors and over 100 volunteers was crucial.
However, the event was not limited to high school students. The Special Populations Prom is held for special population members of Pitt County of all ages, and each person was allowed to bring two guests. ECU Ambassador Leslie Wheeler proposed the idea of hosting the prom, after volunteering at a similar event in her hometown.
"When I got to Pitt County and started working and going to school, I realized that special needs people were a population that our university does not serve," she said.
"We serve at-risk kids and all other kinds of people, but other than Special Olympics, we don't do much for [the special needs population]."
Wheeler said that the purpose of the event was to give this population a social event outside of the holiday parties hosted by the Olympics.
"[It's] just for them to have a night that they can be social and enjoy themselves and feel like they are special," Wheeler said.
"They do a lot of Special Olympics activities but they don't have many social activities except for the Christmas and Valentine's Day parties."
The theme for the prom was "Capture the Dream."
"This [theme] ensures that all attending -- high school age and older individuals with physical and mental disabilities -- will feel that they can capture any dream they have," the ECU Ambassadors organization said in a press release.
"The theme brings the excitement of the upcoming Special Olympics to life. Guests will feel as if they have been transported to Beijing and the opening ceremonies."
The prom was free and many volunteers and donations helped make the event a success. Wheeler said help from the community, sponsors and over 100 volunteers was crucial.
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SCEC
posted 3/31/09 @ 11:34 AM EST
"When I got to Pitt County and started working and going to school, I realized that special needs people were a population that our university does not serve," I just wanted to clear up one thing, that ECU does have a program that caters to people with Special Needs. (Continued…)
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