High schoolers hold a prom for senior citizens

This past weekend, students from Calumet and Lake Linden held a special senior prom with an interesting twist. ABC 10 Keweenaw Bureau reporter Sam Ali was at the event that brought together many generations for one unique day.

With the school year winding down, Copper Country students are not heading off for their summer vacations without getting a few more chances to help out the community in any way they can. This past weekend, a senior prom was held for the local elderly community.

“Well, one of our big things is recycling, and the proms spend thousands of dollars on decorations that get thrown away, so I thought, ‘why not get the senior citizens out and have a good time’?,” event coordinator Sue Fouts said.

Fouts and several students from the organization Teens Who Care decorated the commons area at Calumet High School, and it’s one of many things they do to support their community.

“We’re just a volunteer organization through Calumet High School where we are trying to promote giving and volunteerism,” Fouts said. “We go to the nursing home, animal shelter, and we work with Little Brothers on all of their holiday activities.”

The event was done with collaboration from Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly.

“They seem really excited,” Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly elder services coordinator Rebekkah Mikkola said of the seniors attending the event who came dressed for the occasion. “There’s so many nice decorations, and it’s an opportunity to get dressed up and see some of the kids in their prom gear and just have a good time.”

And the students did not hold back at all, with a group of them even showing off their moves on the dance floor.

“I think it’s a really good time for the students to see some of our elderly friends and have an inter-generational activity,” Mikkola said. “A lot of our elderly friends, this is their first prom that they’ve ever been to. They never got a chance to go to theirs, so we’re happy to have this opportunity for them.”

A new prom king and queen were crowned as the current king and queen relinquished their thrones. The hope for the future is that this event can take place at the end of every school year.