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Special Needs Prom Celebrates Second Year

Special Needs Prom Celebrates Second Year
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By WestKyStar & UT Martin Staff
Nov. 20, 2017 | MARTIN, TN
By WestKyStar & UT Martin Staff Nov. 20, 2017 | 09:04 PM | MARTIN, TN
Prom season is usually associated with spring, but November proms can be special, too. Just ask those who attended a special needs prom last weekend at the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Duncan Ballroom, inside the Boling University Center. A fun night of music and dancing was enjoyed by prom attendees from Weakley, Obion, Lake and Henry counties. This was the event’s second year and is sponsored by the university’s Non-Traditional Students Association, multiple campus organizations and area businesses. 

The prom included a visit from Dr. and Mrs. Keith Carver, university chancellor and his wife. The Carvers had attended several Saturday events, but attending the prom proved to be the most special of all. “Wow, it (the prom) was the best event of the day,” texted Chancellor Carver later after leaving the event.

UT Martin student Julie Durham, of Dresden, is president of the non-traditional students and the main event organizer. Durham said the idea for the prom came from her organization’s members, many of whom are raising children and believed the event was needed. She said last year’s prom was intended for mostly high school-age children, but no age limit applied this year. “This is absolutely a chance for them (the children) … to be who they are without any stigmas or anything like that being applied,” she said Saturday.

Approximately 30 student organizations, both Greek and non-Greek, stepped up to support this year’s event. Also, area businesses contributed services to make the day special, including Debonair Limousine in Union City, which provided two hours of free limousine service. Styles on Broadway in Martin provided hair and makeup at no charge for 15 of the students and later included haircuts for the guys as part of the prom-support package.

Participation in this year’s prom roughly doubled last year’s combined number of student and family participants. The event is reaching more people which is exactly what Julie Durham, Jonathan Riley and others hoped would happen for a special group of children.
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