Special Needs Students at Downers Grove South Get Prom to Remember

Going to prom is a highlight for many high school seniors, but for some—particularly those with special needs—attending isn't always an option.

This year, a group of students at Downers Grove South High School decided to make a change.

"The whole idea was just to give kids with special needs the same experience as the rest of their classmates, because they deserve to have a senior prom as much as the rest of us," junior Jimmy Kruse said.

On April 27, Kruse and three of his friends—Tommy Matysik, Annie Rock and Erin Gentile—escorted three special needs seniors to South High's prom at DiNolfo's Banquets in Homer. The group gathered at Kruse's house for pictures before heading to the dance.

Nearly a month after prom, the students were still smiling about the experience.

One of the special needs students, Michael Picchetti, said he loved getting dressed up with his friends. For Allen Rosete, prom was all about the music.

"I love dancing," said Rosete, who took over as DJ and won tickets to the B96 Summer Bash.

"If there was a king of prom, it was definitely Allen," Kruse said.

For Kruse, the experience was personal. His older sister, Katie, has special needs, so he has gotten to know many of the students in South High's special education department.

"For my sister and a lot of her classmates, it's hard to find a date or even feel comfortable going to prom," Kruse said. "It was important to me that kids like my sister be able to have that experience. They work so hard, and they deserve it."

Kruse and his friends are all members of the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Foundation, an organization dedicated to developing school and community leaders. Student-athletes accepted into the program are invited to attend a weeklong camp in Colorado, where they receive training in leadership and conflict-resolution.

"The mission of J. Kyle Braid is to pay it forward," Kruse said. "We go to Colorado and then are expected to go back and do positive things for our communities. That's what we wanted to do with prom."

South High special education teacher Jamie Sayers said Kruse and his friends made more of an impact than they realize.

"I thought it was so awesome, and I was really grateful that we have such amazing students here at South," Sayers said. "The fact that these kids were able to go to prom and have that experience was really special."