KEWASKUM — Kettle Moraine Gardens Assisted Living Center partnered with Kewaskum High School (KHS) to put on an "Adult Prom" for the residents Thursday afternoon.
The event’s theme was "Let’s Dance Under the Stars," with star-shaped balloons and stellar- themed decorations adorning the common area. The event was reminiscent of a traditional prom, with music from a DJ, dancing, photo ops, snacks and punch. The students even crowned an Adult Prom King and Queen at the celebration.
According to Kettle Moraine Gardens Activity Director Shannon O’Malley-Thomas, the event is an opportunity to break up the sometimes monotonous experience of the typical assisted-living resident.
"It makes them feel special; they get to dress up, and we get to dress up the building," said O’Malley-Thomas. "I think this gives them a chance to feel young, especially with all the high schoolers here to help them, to get them dancing."
This event is a part of a program that KHS students interested in health care can participate in, volunteering at the center as a school activity. With this event, the students gave the residents unique and memorable experiences, while getting a small taste of what it's like to work in the industry.
KHS seniors Avery Liddicoat and Emma Survis led the operation in a way, having been visiting and working with residents in the center since their sophomore years. According to Liddicoat, the idea arose from wanting to do something more for the people that they’d been working with for so long.
“Last year, we decided we were going to do something bigger, and we held the prom event as a way to kind of wrap up our year volunteering with them,” said Liddicoat. “The event was a big hit; it was really something special.”
Survis added that a large part of the event is the school’s connection with the center, and how students both present and future can maintain it.
“It connects the school and the nursing home and everything,” said Survis. “We have freshmen and sophomores with us, too, and we’re seniors kind of leading them, but we’re all connecting.”
This is the second year KHS students have held this event, and according to KHS Academic and Career Planning Coordinator Kevin Pratt, there don’t seem to be any signs of stopping.
“This is just part of what we do at Kewaskum High School; providing our students with many opportunities in the community,” said Pratt. “It was a great idea, and hopefully can continue for years to come.”
