Students plan spectacular evening for special people

People helping people: Those three words sum up what makes our residents great and this the best place to live. It takes many of us years before we realize that without others, we are nothing, and without helping our fellow man, we as a person are less than we could be. A couple of beautiful young ladies from Superior High School have realized this before many of us even know what time it is.

Lainy Steffan and Kaelynn Allen have been friends since the sixth grade when they met at a dance at Cathedral. They have been best friends since then and have combined their intelligence and compassion for others within their senior project. And, what a senior project it is.

Hundreds of hours of hard work and a tremendous amount of planning has taken place during the school year and will culminate in a Fashion Show to be held at the Performing Arts Center at the high school Friday evening. Doors open at 6 and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. and the doors will be locked at 6:45 p.m.

This is not your usual, run-of-the-mill fashion show. The participants will be children of teachers in the district, and best of all, some very talented young people from the high school, members of the Children with Special Needs Program. This will be a night to remember. The show will end around 8 p.m. Tickets to attend this gala are only $3 and can be purchased at the door. All the proceeds will be given to the Special Olympics.

Look what you get for an hour and a half of your time and $3: Singing, dancing, a fashion show, other musical entertainment, a chance to win big bucks in the 50/50 drawing — remember, the more people investing in the raffle, the greater the return — Hi-C orange drink, cookies and a chance to help others. What a deal for a great evening of family activities.

Singing will be provided by Alex Ledin, vocals, and Anne Tracy accompanying on the piano. Performing the dance routine will be Jessica Sajec and Annessa Lawrence. Jake Roeber will control the lighting, music and handle the duties of emcee.

Steffan and Allen contacted businesses for their support: JCPenney, Shopko and Maurices were eager to help, and are providing monetary assistance along with clothing for the show.

When asked why they chose this project, both faces light up and broad smiles reveal their excitement and compassion.

From Steffan’s perspective: “Nobody really does anything for the kids with special needs. They are unable to play sports or be in most activities and they get no recognition for what they can do and who they are.”

Allen totally agrees with these sentiments: “These kids are so excited about the event. They are people like everyone else but rarely get to do something fun like this. We want them to have fun and realize they are special like everyone else.”

The girls are extremely thankful to those helping make this a memorable evening.

“Special Ed Assistant Sandy Lemeaux and Senior Project Coordinator Mike Matejka have been an incredible help with our project,” says Steffan. “Without them, we could not have organized this great night. Everyone is so excited about show.”

“These young ladies have such a tremendous senior project, they have involved many people in the community, they are making some students the center of attention who normally do not get to be the focus of en event, and they are helping a wonderful program — the Special Olympics,” Matejka said. “It is rare that I see a project so involved. I hope the community comes out to support such a good cause.”

The models for the fashion show are Jennifer Defoe, Brandon Moe, Travis Janz, Amber Fontecchio, Brittany Johnson, Nona Ericson, Cory Grande, Lacy Thompson, Brandy Atchison, Scott Thompson and Aaron Whereatt. The children helping out are Kathryn Polkinghorne, Elise Heinzman, Owen Wells, Nora Wells, Ashlyn Christiansen and Kamora Sims.

What a great evening these two senior girls have planned for the school and community. For $3, they do all the work, entertain us and feed us goodies.

At such an early age, Lainy Steffan and Kaelynn Allen have learned what is important. That is most impressive. Their compassion will continue to serve them and others for the rest of their lives.

Get there early and fill the Performing Arts Center.

I hope they have raisin oatmeal cookies.

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