Omaha North High elects special-needs student as its prom queen — and the vote was unanimous

[Omaha Steve]

My mom went to North. My sister and I did. Marta and my kids did. I still go to sports events. They just wrapped up a second consecutive state football championship in the largest school class (A). I'm just as proud of this!



MEGAN FARMER/THE WORLD-HERALD
Emily Lanouette, who was elected prom queen at Omaha North High’s April 18 dance, wears her sash, crown and purple nails at school the following week. “I was in shock a little bit,” she said. “I was happy.” Here, she is congratulated by Ronald Parker, a peer professional, after completing a math assignment.


http://www.omaha.com/news/education/omaha-north-high-elects-special-needs-student-as-its-prom/article_0bf32b56-4f17-5f93-a8ea-9c3b83f8a5e6.html

POSTED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 1:00 AM
By Natasha Rausch / World-Herald staff writer

Emily Lanouette rode solo to the Omaha North High School prom.

After dinner at Texas Roadhouse — the restaurant where she also celebrated her 19th birthday — her parents drove her to the dance.

Lanouette, a prom court nominee and a senior with Down syndrome, wore a purple dress underneath a purple jacket. Her fingernails matched. The dress was long and flowy with ruffles, and it swirled outward when she danced, which is her favorite thing to do, she said, especially when it’s Katy Perry singing.

Midway through the evening on April 18, Lanouette and the other prom court nominees were announced.



MEGAN FARMER/THE WORLD-HERALD

Behind newly named prom queen Emily Lanouette are, from left, her mother, Lori, her teacher Lindsey Holley and her father, Joe. Said Holley, “This is a testimony to Emily, a testimony to her mother and father and the way they brought her up and the opportunities they gave her. It is a testimony to North High students.”

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