By: Melody Wallace
In a day in age where we tend to complain that teenagers have no concept of respect, manners, or traditional values; there is quite a redeeming quality in this year’s senior classes. The seniors at Daviess County, Owensboro, and Apollo High schools all demonstrated that genuine heart and character outweigh Hollywood looks and social status. Make no mistake about it, these girls are all popular. “Kelsey knows everybody,” Peyton is “locally famous,” and Bree has had a major role in the school play for the last four years. All three girls have beautiful personalities that will win you over with one smile or sheepish grin. It is no wonder why their classmates could not help but crown each one of them Prom Queen.
Kelsey Dueker is a nineteen year old senior at Daviess County High School. Kelsey is a beautiful blonde young lady with a “real outgoing” and “real bubbly” personality that knows everybody. Not only was Kelsey the manager for the girls’ basketball team, but she was also named Miss Echoes by her peers for the high school yearbook. For all of these reasons it should come as no surprise that Kelsey was voted to represent this year’s senior class as prom queen. What makes Kelsey even more amazing is that she has Down syndrome. However, when speaking to her mother or members of the senior class, they believe Kelsey received the title of prom queen for the same reason that has held true for decades…she is popular and her friends love her. According to senior Katy Holland, who has been friends with Kelsey both in and out of school since the first grade, “Everyone loves Kelsey at Daviess County. (So we decided) she has to be prom queen. I’m really proud of our senior class.” As far as prom night went, Kelsey said, “I was shocked.” When asked if she felt beautiful that evening, she very matter-of-factly said, “I was beautiful.” When asked to recall how she felt dancing with 6’ 4” prom king and basketball star, Logan O’Bryan, Kelsey just giggled, “He was tall for me…I can touch his shoulders.” Parents are not typically in attendance at DCHS for prom, so her mom did not know of the final vote until she received a picture from Kelsey’s teacher showing that she had won. Next year DCHS staff members Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Osborne are excited that Kelsey will return to Daviess County High School for one more year of schooling and then hopefully enter the SHEP (Supported Higher Education Program) for highly motivated students with different abilities at the University of Kentucky. Kelsey has a love for plants and flowers and wants to go to school in the area of “floraculture.” With two older siblings that have graduated high school and gone on to college, Kelsey naturally said, “I want to go to college.” Concerning the rest of Kelsey’s future she says, “I want to grow up. I want to be amazing for people to like me. I appreciate people saying, ‘Kelsey, you’re a good person the way you are.’” Judging by this year’s senior class vote, there is no doubt that she has already accomplished her goal.
Similarly at Owensboro High School, Peyton Van Meter finds that she too “can’t go anywhere without people knowing her.” Kelsey and Peyton have quite a bit in common. Like Kelsey, Peyton is an adorable blonde-headed senior, nineteen, and also happens to have Down syndrome. She also has a great sense of humor and the sweetest little sheepish grin. By choosing Peyton to carry the title of prom queen, this senior class demonstrated how much they truly love and appreciate her and her popularity showed. Peyton’s difficulty with speech has been one of the obstacles she has had to face during her education, but she very clearly communicated how she felt about their vote. My “friends voted me prom queen because I’m nice, I’m thoughtful, and I’m amazing.” Her mother agrees that, “Kids like Peyton for Peyton. If she didn’t have Down’s, I think she still would be voted prom queen.” Peyton’s teacher, Mrs. Lori Walters, confirmed that “Peyton is the most popular girl in school, so she was a logical choice.” Peyton also found herself surprised at being awarded the title of prom queen. After being crowned she looked at her mom and said, “I won. I’m prom queen. Oh, my gosh. I won.” Peyton also plans to return for one more year of high school next year to focus primarily on job and life skills. About her future, she says, “I want to go to college. I want to be a worker.” She will first spend the summer as an “honorary counselor” with Parks and Recreation, and smiles at the thought.
Although Bree Sapp is also a senior at age nineteen, unlike the other girls, Bree has soft auburn hair and proudly wears Apollo blue. Bree finds her fame on stage, under the bright lights, using her uncanny ability to memorize lines, including those of her cast members. Although this may not sound too out of the ordinary, it is quite remarkable for a child with autism who once struggled with echolalia, a type of speech in which children echo the words of the speaker and often speak in third person. Bree also loves to work in the greenhouse, arrange flowers, and create artwork worthy of the “People’s Choice Award.” Bree’s mom was “so excited when she was nominated.” When Bree made it from the final eight selections to the final four, her mom made sure that she was in attendance at prom. Having never been to prom herself, her mother found herself in tears, “When she came down the steps, I was bawlin’.” A little girl who was once scared of an electric can opener and the garbage truck was able to overcome her fear of stairs and be escorted down the staircase to accept her beautiful jeweled crown. Aside from being crowned prom queen, Bree’s favorite memories of the night were taking pictures with the senior girls and being given “a big umbrella” in the spirit of the prom’s theme Singing in the Rain. Bree will not be returning to Apollo next year. She will be learning new skills through Hugh E. Sandefur Industries, a non-profit corporation that offers vocational arts as well as training and employment for disabled adults. Bree wants to get a job, and will hopefully be able to do so via their satellite program with the Wendell Foster Campus. Of all the items that the full scale manufacturing facility assembles and creates, Bree was most excited about making wheelchair parts. In the meantime, she will enjoy the simple things this summer like using her new library card at the public library and listening to her new MP3 player with Monster High ear buds that she received as a graduation gif
When looking at these three beautiful girls and the memories that they were each able to experience on prom night, we also must make sure we look behind the scenes. Each one of these young ladies is amazing and dynamic in their own right, but we must not forget that they also happen to have a support system of teachers, aides, and peer tutors that help them to shine a little brighter. The teachers and aides that work with these students treat them more like family members than students, taking them to ball games, attending their events, and being there for every personal crisis and triumph. The peer tutoring programs at our high schools are made up of incredible young people that help our differently-abled students to read, write, and do outside activities. The relationships built in the peer tutoring program also bring out the best in the tutors, as voiced by Special Education teacher Diane Higdon, “I don’t know who gets the most out of this program.” It is no wonder these students felt inspired to vote for the girls who bring a little sunshine to their lives each day. The character that was demonstrated by all three senior classes can best be summed up by Mrs. Higdon’s words, “It does my heart proud to be a part of it. I will have memories for life.”
Melody Wallace is a teacher at DCMS who finds new blessings each day in her roles as teacher, wife, mom, and stepmom.