CUPERTINO, Calif. -- The senior class at Cupertino High School is feeling the satisfaction of a job well done after winning a national "super-prom" competition.
Their hard work and dedication to helping young people half a world away paid off in a big way.
Dell, Inc. presented the school with a giant check for $100,000 towards a super prom.
The school beat out 77 others across the nation with the class project "Kenya Dream?" that senior's showcased with a a 60-second video.
Instead of raising money to pay for their prom, the class instead raised $50,000 to upgrade the facilities at a middle school in Kenya.
"A lot of people have organizations to help Africa, but we decided we wanted to do something unique," said Nithin Jilla, who worked on the Kenya Dream project. "People try to help out other people. We wanted to focus on the kids and give them an education."
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The school boasts a long tradition of excellence, but staff said they've never seen a class like this.
"Just to know teenagers are capable of so much -- and when they have a vision and are supported in that vision -- they can make anything happen," said class advisor, Melissa Cooley.
As a reward, the students have been promised one amazing prom.
"I'm excited. I don't even know what a $100,000 prom looks like," said Sun. "I don't know what to expect. I'm just excited to go!"
Dell will allow the students to choose a theme, but the rest of the details for the May 15th prom will remain a surprise.
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Upper classmen will forego decorations, banquet and DJ music for prom this year in a small Nebraska town. The Hay Springs High School classmates located about 20 miles southeast of Chadron, will contribute their prom funds to help the people of Haiti.
The Hay Springs High School juniors and seniors voted last week to turn more than $5,300 they’ve raised for prom over to Operation USA to fund relief efforts in Haiti after last month’s devastating earthquake there.
Melanie Wieseler, the junior class sponsor, said a community patron suggested the kids focus more on celebrating together rather than the money they spend on their surroundings. Students Wacey Schmid and Trenton Kuhn took the idea of donating their funds from the school’s student council, where it was first presented, to the junior and senior student body. They decided the money could do more good there and set about researching a charitable organization.
The Hay Springs juniors and seniors chose Operation USA’s Haiti relief efforts.
The Los Angeles, Calif.-based agency has delivered $350 million in relief and development projects in 99 countries since its inception. The plans for prom are more low-key with music including an iPod and a set of big speakers. Some of the kids have said they would eat macaroni and cheese for the dinner. “They just want a social night together,” Wiesler said.
Wieseler said the students have also challenged other high school students to donate to Haiti relief efforts. Donations can be made to an account the class has set up at Security First Bank in Hay Springs. For more information on Operation USA, go to: www.opusa.org.
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