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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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Good to hear that many of the students came to her defense. The bullies, who are usually in the minority, get too much attention and therefore, power. Most people, including young adults and teens, are empathetic towards others and do the right thing.
Humanity is going to hell in a hand basket....people can be as cruel as they want and there are no repercussions. Deny them their diploma and see just how funny they think their prank was. Oh wait a minute, their parents are probably just saying "kids will be kids". Makes me wonder if they too are cruel to another human beings.
My niece has been bullied because she developed early into a knockout, so I guess you can be bullied for a number of things. As soon as the boys took notice, the other girls started to spread rumors about her. One girl in particular has been the worst. My sister has spoken to the girl's mother, but she seems to want to turn a blind eye and not face the fact that she has raised a bully. Most of the time, when a new rumor starts we quickly know who it came form. It's a real shame that girls are raised to be constantly competing and not support each other. I don't think boys have to deal with the whole "frienemy" phenomenon that much.
Hold your head high. The so called high society snobs and popular kids will find their stars tarnishing as they go through life.
Good thing all these people rallied, otherwise this poor victim might have hung herself.
You know what they should do. They should not let the kids who did this go to home coming or anything that has to do with home coming
was it because she wears different shoe laces?
She sounds like a good person ,decent people shouldn't be treated like this. The bullies definitely do not understand how things like this can stay with a person. I was bullied for YEARS and am still suffering from it. Please Whitney and anyone else do not let the bullies win .Keep being true to yourself and be HAPPY thats the best way to get back at them. Keep your head up.
Tghe joke must be on the students. This young lady is beautiful. Would be a great homecoming queen.
And those who did this to her have their own self esteem problems, so they have to bring someone else down to make themselves feel better. Probably pock faced, junk food video game playing couch potato's.
I'd like to see a story on what's happening to the "haters". Expel them. Run them out of town.
Dang it..Again I usually try to be s smart a** with a comment about the daily topic...but I've got nothing to say other then.. "What a great daughter you have their Sir".
It is hard to realize that when you are in HS and not part of the "in crowd" that life can get much better. I recenlty went to a 50 year class reunion luncheon ( went away to college and left the area). What did I find, the "popular kids" HS was the highlight of their lives,they had done little since then - the geeks and quiet kids were the most successful and had led interesing lives and careers.
I'll never go to a class reunion... never.
My 10 year reunion is next month. With the way I was treated in HS..no thanks!
Picking on a pretty girl?? Must be a bunch of homosexuals in Michigan.
LOL right on
Pretty girl, any young man would be lucky to have her on his arm at Homecoming........
Whitney.... sorry about all of this happening to you.. you look wonderful in the picture. You will be out of this world GORGEOUS at the homecoming dance. Prank?? Epic Fail You Go Girl. Stay on the high road, it will never let you down.
Community of angels.
Psalm 91 : 12-13
Why was she the brunt of a joke? Is she from a poor family and has to wear "uncool" clothes? Does she have a learning disability? The article does not say why she was voted on as a joke.
Does it really matter?
Hummm... Who's laughing now?? Hang in there girl....
Not so sure she wasn't a valid pick, really. If I were a guy, I'd think she's pretty HOT. Hope she's as pretty inside as she is out.
I was popular in school but never wanted to be part of the "uppity-ups" that got their kicks by putting other people down. And now, many years later, those folks aren't doing so well life. I wonder why.
sounds like the jokes on them, she'll probably have a memorable night and grow into someone beautiful while they fade into obscurity as they all seem to do.
Those mean kids ever see 'Carrie'?, lol. The community came together and hopefully she will make Prom Queen.
Well, there is another way you can look at this situation and nobody has figured out either, well I have it and here it goes: Envy. If you were a loser, would others bother with a loser? I doubt it very much, although every thing is possible in the vineyard of the Lord. When others attack you is because they consider you a threat, ergo, they want to bring you down to their level, but don't let them drag you down and show them that eagles don't mix with pigs.
Those responsible should be called out and publicly embarrassed. I hope she has a wonderful time, and kudos to those in her community who stepped up to provide for her special night. Superficial, mean-spirited kids usually come from superficial mean-spirited parents. Maybe they should have their feet held to the fire as well.
Sounds like a little town Samson Alabama that was full of cornbread aristocrats when I was growing up.A lot of small towns are that way.