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Queen for a night

Gresham juniors elect prom queen with special needs
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Contributed Photo Queen Heidi Anderson, who was born with Downs Syndrome, and King James Kazik reigned over Gresham’s junior prom April 26.

Heidi Anderson has not allowed Downs Syndrome hinder her high school experience.

The 16-year-old junior is a straight-A student at Gresham Community School, competes in Special Olympics, works outside of school and last month was selected prom queen by her classmates.

Heidi celebrated prom April 26 in a new dress, on the arm of king James Kazik and alongside many friends.

“She had a special day in Wausau with a few other couples,” said Phillip Anderson, Heidi’s father. “They went shopping and had dinner together.”

What she enjoyed the most was being around her peers, Heidi said.

“It was good and I was happy to be there,” she said.

Kazik helped make prom special for Heidi, Phillip Anderson said.

“He was very receptive to the whole idea and very nice about it,” he said.

Heidi was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome at birth, but she enjoys many activities similar to her peers and has been mainstreamed at the school.

“She has good days and bad days at school,” her father said. “But, overall, Gresham has been pretty good with her. She does very well in class, she is a straight-A student and I am very proud of her.

“It’s very important to focus on the similarities and differences. She goes to special education classes, but she is mainstreamed with the general school group throughout the day.”

Her after-school activities also are similar to many students’.

She likes competing in bowling and bocce in Special Olympics, and is part of a work training program out of school. At home, she enjoys watching movies and spending time with her family, which also includes her mom, Mary Beth, older sister, Lindsay, who is the Gresham Class of 2014 valedictorian, and younger sister, Melissa, who is in seventh grade.

While Heidi is looking forward to her senior year at Gresham, she dreams of even bigger things.

“She wants to go to Hollywood and get into acting,” Phillip Anderson said.

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