Students Build Wheelchair Costume For 'Star Wars' Fan

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- As Star Wars fans storm into area theaters to check out the latest installment of the popular movie saga, one particular student will be watching "The Last Jedi" while living out a lifelong dream. Mount Vernon Presbyterian School will host a private screening on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Phipps Plaza AMC for Jared, a 14-year-old boy living with cerebral palsy.

Jared, an avid Star Wars fan, will be surrounded by characters such as Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, a jawa, Boba Fett, a Jedi and a storm trooper from the 501st Legion as he takes his personal, custom-made Millennium Falcon for a spin through the Buckhead mall.

High school students at Mount Vernon partnered with Magic Wheelchair, an organization that creates costues for children in wheelchairs, and 501st Legion, an all-volunteer organization formed to bring together Star Wars costume enthusiasts to transform Jared into Han Solo.

The big reveal will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 20, beginning with Jared’s arrival at Phipps Plaza at 11:45 a.m. Following his arrival, Jared will take photos with Star Wars characters and will have the chance to create his own Chewbacca.

Around 12:30 p.m., he will be fitted into his Falcon and Star Wars characters will escort the teen into the theater where he will settle in for the movie.

During the last two months, students in Mount Vernon’s Innovation Diploma program have been working in partnership with Magic Wheelchair. Getting to know Jared’s needs, the students utilized design thinking, people-centered problem solving, to build the most epic Millenium Falcon wheelchair ever. You can review the students' project by checking out photos and reading their blog posts.

Image via Mount Vernon Presbyterian School