Indian Lake High School freshman Eli Thornburgh got to experience Prom with his friend, Indian Lake senior Katelyn Hogan, two different times this year. Hogan asked Thornburgh to accompany her to Indian Lake’s High School Prom on Saturday night. They were able to dance together again on Monday during the school day when Indian Lake hosted the annual Students with Special Needs Prom. The two formed a friendship years ago when Hogan’s mother worked as an aide in Thornburgh's Students with Special Needs classroom. Now they attend church together regularly and gather for other family activities. Thornburgh says his favorite parts of both proms were “the dance moves!” Donna Elson and Brittany Younkman are the Students with Special Needs teachers at Indian Lake High School and Elson is the Junior Class/Prom Advisor. She explains, “The Students with Special Needs Prom” rotates to different schools in the area every year. We just left our “Meet Me in Wonderland” decorations up and we were glad to welcome the kids this time.” Nearly 180 students in grades 9 through 12 from nine area schools participated in the Prom. Names were drawn to choose royalty. JT Lucia from Auglaize County ESC Transitions was named Prom King and Rebecca Napier from Jackson Center High School was crowned Queen. Members of the Indian Lake High School food service staff prepared a meal. More than 30 students from ILHS Key Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) helped serve the food and later danced with the crowd alongside Hogan and Thornburgh. Hogan says it was an inspiration day. “It just makes me happy to see all the kids interacting and accepting each other.”