These seniors are going to the prom. Senior citizens, that is

Every other week for months, Timberline High School students from the Wolf Connection leadership program have been visiting with groups of senior citizens in Boise.

At the first visit, the students were nervous, they said. But now they know the seniors by name, and have traded jokes and life stories.

“It’s just really cool seeing how different generations — we’re more similar than we think,” says Logan Dannenfeldt, a Timberline junior.

“Oh, they’re bright and shiny and full of hope,” says Nancy Berto, who lives at Brookdale Boise Parkcenter Assisted Living. “They’re really inspirational for us seniors, and a joy to talk to, to listen to.”

Sophia Delgado, a Timberline senior, says that things were different back in the 40s, when the senior citizens were teens. “But hearing all their stories (I try) to correlate it back to my life … taking their advice and kind of tweaking it to help me.”

The last several conversations between the students and senior citizens have buzzed with anticipation for the upcoming Senior Citizen Prom on Tuesday, Feb. 25. It’s the culmination of this part of the leadership program and is an evening for students and seniors to mingle, dance, socialize and have fun.

“They ask us, like, how was your senior prom?” says Berto. “They compare it with a modern-day senior prom, and sometimes it’s two wildly different things.”

Students apply to be part of Timberline’s one-year leadership program, so the prom is new to each of them. But some of the senior citizens are repeat guests.

“They’ve shared all their fun stories of how much fun it is,” says Dannenfelt. “We’re just really excited to try and put our own spin on something new this year.”

That spin is this year’s theme, “Night in Paris.” “There’s going to be lights everywhere,” says Delgado, who is on the decorating committee.

Angela Petsche, 92, is the reigning Senior Prom queen. “It was lots of fun,” she says, remembering previous years, the crown, the sash and being honored. “We met a lot of nice people, like the moms and dads of some of the children.”

The prom is from 6-9 p.m. at the Dick Eardley Senior Center, 690 Robbins Road. All senior citizens are invited. For more information and to RSVP, contact Wolf Connection mentor Kelly Gonser: kelly.gonser@boiseschools.org or 208-854-6269.

This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 4:50 PM.