Mayor Of Lindenhurst High School Named Prom Queen

LINDENHURST, NY - Prom night is always a special time for young high school students but it was especially special for the two Lindenhurst High School students who were chosen to be prom king and queen.

Students Alisha Pinto and Colin McCarron were both elected by their peers to be the reigning queen and king, respectively.

For Pinto, this came as no surprise.

"I am the 'mayor of the school,'" Pinto told Patch.

Pinto, who has Williams syndrome, is well known at Lindenhurst High School. The syndrome causes a mental delay so while Pinto is 18-years-old, she has the mind of a 10-year-old.

As a result of the syndrome, Pinto is extremely friendly to the point where a stranger can become a best friend, which is why she is so well known and well liked at the school.

"When they told me that she was being nominated, I was excited because kids with disabilities don't really get to experience that very much so that meant something to me even if she wasn't prom queen it still meant something because they took the time to nominate her," her mother Stephanie Rivera, said.

Pinto was so excited when she heard that she was chosen to be prom queen that she ran across the dance floor and took her crown. She then took the mic and sang along with the song before dancing with the prom king, 18-year-old McCarron to James Blunt's 'You're Beautiful.'

"It was exciting because I know her and I know how she is she likes to be the center of the party," Rivera said. "She was happy and excited so it was a good thing."

Michael Riker, who has been teaching physical education for 13 years at the local elementary school, was at the prom with his DJ company that ran the event. He told Patch how he got to witness some of these kids that are graduating that he had in kindergarten.

"It’s just great to be a part of something like this," he said. "[The students] selected a perfect prom king and queen."

Photos courtesy of Stephanie Rivera

Prom King and Queen for the Class of 2018 pic.twitter.com/zmzJ85LjMi
— Lindenhurst High School (@lindenhursths) June" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/lindenhurs... 1, 2018

Main photo: Lindenhurst School District

Video courtesy of Michael Riker