‘Inclusion is a beautiful thing’: Teen with Down syndrome is voted prom queen at Elkhorn South High

Caitlin Adams beamed and high-fived her friends when she heard she’d been selected prom queen at Elkhorn South High School. Adams, a senior with Down syndrome, was the top vote-getter and wore the tiara at the school’s recent prom. Fellow senior Callie Bopes said she and other friends knew Adams would love to be queen and rallied support for her during voting this spring. Principal Mark Kalvoda announced her as winner at the April 7 dance. “She had the biggest smile on her face the whole night,’’ said Bopes, who’s been her friend since kindergarten. The principal called Adams a wonderful young lady who’s a “spark plug around our building.” Stephanie Adams said her daughter was thrilled to be picked. Students, teachers and parents have always accepted her daughter and the vote for queen was a powerful example, her mom said. “It gives her confidence to know she can do great things in life,’’ her mom said. She said her daughter is just like any other teen. She loves hanging out with her friends, posting pictures on Snapchat and watching videos of her favorite singers on YouTube. Her daughter also enjoys working on the school yearbook, taking hip-hop dance classes and playing basketball in the Special Olympics. She’s also a big Dallas Cowboys fan. Her mom said that when classmates selected her daughter as queen they were doing more than just making one young person very happy. “I think the message is that inclusion is a beautiful thing.”