BULLIES NOMINATED A TEEN GIRL FOR HOMECOMING COURT AS A JOKE, HOPING TO HUMILIATE HER. INSTEAD, WHITNEY KROPP RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION AS SHE WALKED ONTO THE FOOTBALL FIELD WITH HER FATHER AND GRANDFATHER.

In 2012, a group of high school students thought they had found a cruel way to embarrass a teenage girl.

 

Instead, their prank became a moment of overwhelming support.

Whitney Kropp was a 16-year-old sophomore at Ogemaw Heights High School in West Branch, Michigan, when she learned that some classmates had nominated her to the homecoming court as a joke.

At first, she was excited to be included. Then she discovered the intention behind the nomination.

She was devastated and considered skipping the event.

But when her story spread, something unexpected happened.

Local businesses came together to provide her with a dress, shoes, jewelry, hair styling and makeup. Residents organized messages of support, and even students from a rival school joined in.

On September 28, Whitney arrived at her school’s homecoming football game wearing a beautiful orange-red dress.

Escorted onto the field by her father and grandfather, she was greeted by a crowd cheering her on.

Students from the opposing school held signs supporting her, while other spectators wore shirts carrying messages against bullying.

What some classmates had intended as an opportunity to humiliate her had become a celebration of her courage.

And Whitney chose to enjoy the evening.

Her story became a widely shared reminder that cruelty doesn’t always get the final word.

Sources: ABC News; Associated Press; CBS Detroit; Los Angeles Times.

What do you think schools can do to encourage more students to stand up against bullying?