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Dale G. Young / The Detroit News
Whitney Kropp was named to the homecoming court as a joke by her classmates, but the tiny farm town of West Branch, Mich., has rallied around her.
A tiny farming town in Michigan is rallying around a 16-year-old girl who was voted to be on a high school homecoming court as part of a prank. Local businesses are picking up the tab for her special night, while a neighbor started a Facebook support page.
"It’s been overwhelming," Bernice Kropp told NBC News on Monday. Her daughter, Whitney Kropp, is at the center of the controversy at West Branch’s Ogemaw Heights High School, north of Saginaw.
Kropp said Whitney was humiliated when she learned Sept. 13 that her selection to the homecoming court had been part of a joke. She said students pointed at her in the hallways and laughed, and the boy who was picked with her withdrew.
"She was getting ridiculed in school and on Facebook," Kropp said.
"But then," Kropp added, "other kids started coming up to her and saying, 'Whitney, don’t let them stop you from going to homecoming. You need to go ahead, you need to do it'."
Kropp said her daughter, a sophomore, had been picked on before at school, but not to the extent of the peer vote that selects popular students to the court, which traditionally names a queen, king and princes and princesses from each class. The high school has about 800 students.
"I thought I wasn't worthy. I was this big old joke," Whitney told The Detroit News.
Dan Cwayna, the superintendent of the West Branch-Rose City School District, told NBC News he is aware of the situation. “I do not have much to add at this time,” he said, adding “I am hesitant to say anything out of privacy and concerns for the student involved.”
Kropp described her daughter as quiet, polite and kind, rarely finding fault with peers and people. Kropp said Whitney has a date for the dance this Saturday, "and it’s her boyfriend who has been very quiet and supportive through all of this."
"You want to protect your kid, and you feel angry and mad at what has happened, but at the same time the outpouring to help her has been beyond expected," Kropp said.
Word spread quickly through the community of about 2,100 residents in West Branch. Resident Jamie Kline started a Facebook support page, gaining more than 4,000 likes in Michigan and nationwide. Personal stories of bullying and messages of encouragement filled the page, among them:
"You go, girl! From here in California, it looks like you won the vote legitimately but some of your "friends" got jealous and nasty about it. Their "joke" never really happened! Hold your head high and have a good time," Raymond Puffer.
"Whitney YOU are a beautiful gal inside and out and dont ever let anyone tell you any different,” Karen Morrison Gross.
"I am so proud of this young lady ((((You GO, Girl))))), her family and the awesome community we share! It's high time we ALL take a stand against bullies. They come in all sizes, ages and social arenas. Be Kind ALWAYS,” Ginger Warren.
Jen Case, who is with Whit’s End Salon in West Branch, said the salon owner donated services to cut, color and style Kropp’s hair. "Bullying is a big thing and we wanted to turn this into a positive moment," Case said.
Other local businesses are paying for Whitney’s dinner, gown, shoes and a tiara for the dance.
"We live in this community and we’re about the community and giving back," Case told NBC News. "We wanted to help this young lady have a special night."
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I guess I am missing something. She is a lovely girl and she will make a lovely queen. How about it Beib? Could you escort this fine young lass to her dance? Anybody need a teenager for a two line extra part?
I hope you'll read her story! Watch her video!
#incart_river
you'll understand!
#incart_river
whitney, sue the pta, get a written apology, signed by important members of your community, whom you respect. a lot of people like you.
my boy was nice, sometimes liked, though he was bullied unmercifully. at his graduation, the "valedictorian" kelly marshall, i told her i knew what she did to him. he was small, on the basketball team, she was a large black intelligent though insecure girl whom tried to ruin every day of my son's life.
they arent the friends you want, you can be as nice as you are, this is lifechanging you want a fresh start, enjoy the people reaching out to you, grab on and make a life, dont get back into the teen "crush" of bullies, dont carry it with you as baggage, they'll get their own suffering someday.
be good, live and let live, peace
Plenty of people i went to highschool with were akward. they hadnt quite grown into their bodies or learned who they were yet. people made fun of them. and 10 years later those girls are beautiful. they grew out of the "ugly duckling" phase and now have successful jobs because warm hearted beautiful women who now model and ended up married before their "popular" peers. Kids can be cruel and its a shame, but one day this girl will be more successful and strive harder because of it.
Did anyone ever get elected as a joke? My guess is most of the kids wanted you to get there, and the support was not liked by the bullies. In any case, it seems to me you got the votes so the event is yours, make the best of it and enojy it... and let the bullies feel as small and stupid as they are. One other thing, you really are naturally lovely!
They need to just do away with the prom king and queen crap.
Its pointless and useless. It’s a popularity vote based off money and looks or
now the pity vote which I’m not sure I’d want (no disrespect to this young
lady). Its just stupid. Just let them all get together and mingle for prom and
skip the stupid nominations. Personally I believe to some degree kids have to
be kids and the picking on eachother (to a degree) must be allowed. It develops
character and if you look back the ones that do the best and turn out better in
life are those that got picked on throughout school. I was one of those kids….
The skinny little quiet kid… However as much “picking on” as I received I still
don’t think its near as bad as what some of these kids now a days do so again
its not so cut and dry.
The whole prom queen/homecoming queen is a dog and pony show for rich, blond girls from the best families. It gives "Miss Entitled" an opportunity to dress up,wear a tiara and show off. Everyone knows it, and they know it. Its so sad and stupid. Girls from lower socioeconomic classes were never voted to the homecoming court, no matter how nice they were.
High school bullies often grow up to become pedophiles and rapists.
I am very happy she got all the support from her town she did. Now maybe the ignorant bully that did this to her will get the treatment she got from the ignorant students that laughed at her. I hope they know how they treated her was wrong, unkind, stupid, and selfish, not to mention immature. I wish her the best of luck and I hope she has/or had a great night. I don't understand why the boy backed out that was suppose to be with her on the court -- unless he was the one who started this -- the bully. I hate bullies and if this one gets it thrown back in his/her face and embarrassed by the other students the way she was, that would be fine with me. It's about time it got turned around on some of them. You go girl!
I'm sorry I didn't give this more attention until now. I've been a long time victim of bullying and cyber bullying, so I understand how devastating it can be to one's reputation and self esteem. I would recommend with caution that you go to the homecoming dance, but surround yourself with your boyfriend and a lot of supportive friends for your protection, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. I am proud of your community and of the media for stepping up to take you're side and show their support. Best of wishes to you for a wonderful homecoming night. Perhaps God meant for you to be the homecoming queen and your boyfriend the homecoming king after all. You GO GIRL! Love & Prayers, Kim Gandy