South Dakota Students Surprise Special Needs Classmate

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, students from one South Dakota high school crowned their classmate as prom queen.

According to Dakota News Now...at West Central High School in Hartford, senior Tori Olson experienced a magical prom night when her classmates crowned her prom queen.

Though Tori has Down syndrome and is mostly non-verbal, her infectious joy and vibrant personality have made her beloved by the entire school community.

Since moving to Hartford during the pandemic, Tori has thrived thanks to a supportive network of family, teachers, and classmates.

Her father James, points to her ability to bring happiness through simple moments like "that little laugh" that keeps him going.

As a member of the cheerleading team and an enthusiastic participant in life skills classes, Tori has fully embraced high school life.

For prom, the community rallied around Tori, helping with her dress, hair styling, and even providing gift cards for a pre-prom Dairy Queen treat.

Throughout the evening, she enjoyed dance battles and time with her date, Cody Opitz, a classmate who shares her love of tic-tac-toe and Uno.