On April 18, from 6-8 p.m. at Oak Park River Forest (OPRF), the annual Best Buddies Prom occurred for general education students as well as students in the LIFE program. The prom has been going on for over 10 years and is hosted by a different school each year that runs a Best Buddies program. This year at OPRF, students from LT, Riverside Brookfield (RB), York, and, of course, OPRF were in attendance at the “Under the Sea” night. 

“Prom is definitely the biggest event of the year, and we spend a lot of time fundraising to prepare for it when it’s our turn to host,” co-president of Best Buddies Tess Holmes ‘26 said. “I think it is so important that we foster an environment where the buddies can feel included and loved. I think there is no reason they should not have the same high school experience as any teenager, including experiencing such an important milestone [like] prom.”

During the Prom, Canes was catered for dinner, there was a dessert bar, a DJ, a photo booth, and lots of dancing and hanging out. There were also sensory activities, like coloring and crafting, for those who may have needed a less stimulating environment.

 “Best Buddies Prom is super important for everyone to feel included and involved in the school environment,” co-president Allie Hennessey ‘26 said. “It expands everyone’s community by combining with other high schools. It is very inclusive and adapted for buddies’ needs, which is different from a typical prom. It allows all grade levels to attend this prom and is adjusted to better suit our buddies’ needs with different quiet zones and additional activities.”

During the two-hour event, the atmosphere was electric. There was singing and dancing, and buddies and general education students from different schools were bonding and laughing together. If attendees were standing on the outskirts of the dance floor, they would feel a compelling force pushing them to join in on the fun. 

“There was not a face in the room that didn’t have a smile on it, not a person sitting alone; the connectivity was inspiring,” attendee Charlie Wichman ‘26 said.

When attendees walked down the hallway leading to the cafeteria, the center of the event, they walked across a red carpet and entered the “Under the Sea” wonderland. The cafeteria was filled with oceanic decorations, and every table had an array of things that could be found in water, like fish and seaweed. There were over 150 general and Special Education students in attendance, and due to the surplus in interest this year, LT was able to secure a bus for people to catch a ride to OPRF. 

“I got to meet all different buddies from all different schools,” Wichman said. “For some buddies, the music was too much, but they wanted to still be a part of the community, and I got to be a part of their experience. I loved dancing with my long-term friend, who is also a buddy, David Frehner [‘26], whose favorite pastime is dancing.”  

Since the prom includes multiple schools every year, the prom has become an event that resembles a family reunion. Friends from years prior reconnect on the dance floor and bond over dinner while catching up on anything missed. 

“I loved the prom [that] we hosted last year,” Best Buddies sponsor Cassie Niego said. “The theme was Hollywood, and with the help of [last year’s Best Buddies mom Erica Gallagher], we were able to decorate the SC Corral into a Hollywood wonderland. Students really bought into that theme, and I will never forget Halina Foster’s [‘25] take on the old Hollywood glam with her attire.”

Buddies are allowed to attend the typical prom that will occur on May 16, but the Best Buddies prom is more inviting for them. The atmosphere and combination of exhilarating dance floor and quiet sensory room appeal to any buddy of any kind.