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CUERO – A white stretch limo pulled up in front of the clubhouse at Cuero City Park. Beaming teenagers piled out, dressed to the nines. They had arrived at prom.

About 60 Lifeskills students took part in the celebration that included all the trimmings of a prom, down to the naming of kings and queens. Lana from Hallettsville and Steven from Yorktown, Tyler from Yoakum and Falynn from Hallettsville were named high school kings and queens, and Billie Jean of Shiner and DeShae of Yoakum were named junior high king and queen.

The clubhouse was decorated with an arch for the students to pass through as they entered as well as balloons and other wall decorations. Music filled the room and the students took to the dance floor. Refreshments were also served, including a special “Prom 2008” cake.

“They don’t get to enjoy everything we get to enjoy,” said Kelly Costella, senior president of the Anchor Club of Cuero that hosted the event. “This is really special to us. We get to help them feel better about themselves, and it makes us feel good, too. It gets to your heart to see them having so much fun.”

Those involved with the students on a daily basis know the prom is special for the students.

“It makes them feel they are even more involved in the mainstream than they already are,” said Belinda Lerma, family support liaison for the DeWitt-Lavaca Special Ed Co-op. “I have students on the Yell Team, who take part in reading to younger students, and other mainstream activities. This is one more that they enjoy.”

Taking part in the prom were students from the DeWitt-Lavaca Special Ed Co-op, and from the Goliad, Refugio, Stockdale and Woodsboro school districts.

The Anchor Club is a service organization for students and is sponsored by the Cuero Pilot Club.

Sonny Long is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. He can be reached at 361-580-6585, by e-mail at slong@vicad.com, or comment on this story at VictoriaAdvocate.com.