By David Stahler Jr.

It’s Saturday in early March and seniors are on the dance floor of the Lyndon Institute cafeteria, grooving in their finest dress to the classic rock cranking from speakers in the corner. A table of punch, pastries, and baked goods beckons from the opposite corner.

Prom has come early this year to LI, but it’s not your grandma’s prom…actually, it is your grandma’s prom, for this dance has been created not for LI’s high school seniors but the community’s senior citizens, set at the early bird time of 3:00-5:00 in the afternoon.

This “senior” prom is the brainchild of Emma Amadon, an LI senior of the 12th grade variety, created as the culmination of her J Term work. Amadon spent the second half of each day during the month of January interning at Cedar Lane Home (formerly Lyndon Women’s Home)—an assisted living facility that houses four women in Danville, Vermont—learning how to provide care for disabled seniors in a smaller, less clinical setting.

“Toward the end of the month, I was thinking about coming up with something fun for them to do, something to get them out of the house,” Amadon said. “My manager suggested putting on a dance. When I brought the idea up with the ladies, they said that sounded like fun. None of them had ever been to prom when they were young. And they love to dress up!”

Amadon soon realized the Cedar Lane home would be too small to host a dance, so she arranged to hold the event at Lyndon Institute in the cafeteria, the traditional location for LI school dances. Seniors from Canterbury Inn in St. Johnsbury, as well as the Darling Inn and The Pines in Lyndon were invited.

Michelle Parson, LI’s Work Based Learning Coordinator, helped Amadon with a few other arrangements, including coordinating with Central Mane Salon in St. Johnsbury, who volunteered to style several of the Cedar Lane residents’ hair, and Bentley’s Bakery in Danville, who donated the baked goods.

A few weeks before the prom, Amadon took two of the residents to HOPE in Lyndonville to search for dresses, taking advantage of the thrift store’s “Princess Project.” Started years ago by LI student Eden Berube, the Princess Project continues to loan formal dresses to area ladies in need—now both young and old alike.

Amadon borrowed LI’s stockpile of supplies from past proms to decorate the cafeteria, while fellow senior Taylor Trepanier procured a photo booth. LI social studies teacher Paul Scavitto, a popular DJ for LI dances and social events, volunteered his time and equipment to provide music for the guests.

73 year-old Robert Short, sporting a bow tie and sequin vest, was a hit on the dance floor, surprising young and old alike with his dance moves, including a full split that drew cheers.

Short traveled all the way from Newport to attend. “I love it!” he said, when asked what he thought of the prom. “I dance all winter, as much as I can. It keeps you young!” 

Ethel Shepherd (who goes by “Eddie”) is a 77 year-old resident of Cedar Lane, one of the four women Amadon worked with during her internship. In her prom dress, complete with a wrist corsage of white roses, Shepherd was all smiles during the dance.

“I love this place,” she said, looking around at the decked-out cafeteria. “And I love any kind of dancing. I didn’t really go to school, so a prom never happened for me when I was young. This is a dream come true!”

Cedar Lane director, Laurie Young, was by her side, smiling as much as her patients. “This is incredibly special,” she said. “Eddie’s brother passed away a week ago, and this has gone a long way toward lifting her spirits.”

“It was really great,” Amadon said afterward. “It looked like everyone had a lot of fun. I may try to do it again next year.”

For her, a highlight was watching Short do backflips across the dance floor.

The experience of working at Cedar Lane left an impression on Amadon, who plans to continue her education next year at college, possibly at VTSU Lyndon.

“I was originally planning on majoring in psychology and working in the field of mental health as a therapist,” she said. “But now because of my experience working at Cedar Lane, I’m considering switching to nursing.”