Vincent Prom is a talented and hard-working Senior at Jefferson High School. This year he made the company with the elite Jefferson Dancers. He needs to raise funds to be able to join the company on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to France in the spring of 2017.  

A statement from Mom, Bobbie Prom:

My son, Vincent, has always been a child who cared deeply for others. He always wanted to make people feel good, and still has that beautiful trait. His physical endurance started out with a passion for skateboarding, and he was exceptional at it, it's probably why he has such great balance dancing. He then expanded his focus to include basketball. He was one of the star players in middle school, that's probably where he got his first taste of the spotlight. He loves the spotlight and always has. Oddly, he is still so beautifully humble.

After he graduated from Ockley Green Middle School, he continued with basketball through his freshman year. Then in dance class and found his creative calling. That was the beginning of a long and physically challenging passion for dance. I am so proud of him, he dances so beautifully, but that is just one of the things he does. He is also an amazing self-taught pianist and everyone loves to listen to him play.

He is a 4.0 student with hopes to be this year's valedictorian - his plan since 8th grade! He has belonged to the Caldera Program for 6 years now, and Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) for 4 years.

He is also an environmentalist. He was a member of GRUNT (Greenpaces Restoration & Urban Naturalist Team), a volunteer environmental science and job skills program that connects youth to nature and environmental careers. He worked as an intern in Sisters, OR through the summer of 2015 helping to clean up the invasive plant species that are taking over in that area. It was not easy for me to let him go for the entire summer, but his older brother, who is working on his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies in Illinois, was interning for the summer too.

He wanted to do the internship again last summer but he received a scholarship for a summer dance classes, so he was happy to stay. While taking classes, he also worked a local job for the last summer.

Vincent knows he can do anything. He is inspiring to everyone who knows him.

 

Family:

Vincent's father is an immigrant from Cambodia who has worked at the steel mill for the past 20 years. We lived on Chautauqua and Alaska for 23 years and all the Prom boys grew up there, as well as a few foster and homeless teens. We have taken in 13 teens over the years; it has been an amazing experience for myself as well as my children. I was first and foremost a Mother/homemaker, but always had a wide array of jobs to try to make ends meet. I have been a waitress, bartender, gardener, cashier, housekeeper, child care provider, handicap care provider, as well as foster care provider.

I dropped out of high school in 9th grade and started a family soon after. My one regret is that I never allowed myself to follow my passion to finish school, until now. When Patrick (my oldest) was starting college at PCC he brought me with him and held my hand when I signed up for classes to get my GED, that was 2 years ago. I got it, and wanted so much more.

I was divorced after 23 years of marriage in 2013 and had to figure out how to maintain a household of 6 by myself. It's been a struggle, but I’m getting used to it. I am a full time student at PCC, working towards a transfer degree, then off to Marylhurst to finish a degree in Art Therapy. My passions are art and helping people. I work at the Women's Resource Center at PCC.

Vincent and all the kids have wonderful relationships. Michael, 20 years old second born, he is the chance taker. Michael is an incredible person to help get over any kind of fear or timidness.  Mina his girlfriend is like a daughter to me, they got pregnant when they were 16 and now I have a beautiful grandson, Tony, who is the love of my life. Michael works full time in the kitchen at Urban Farmer and is an all-out musician /songwriter. Mina is starting at PCC for the fall on a long road to being a nurse. Joneyo is his younger brother. He is a freshman at Jefferson this year and doing well so far, he is an incredible writer/rapper who is doing some recording this week. They all have instruments that they have taught themselves to play, and have their own unique incredible talents and interests. I am so proud of them.

 

A statement from Vincent Prom:

I first got into dance as a hobby. I took dance at Jefferson my sophomore year as a class and fell in love with it. I joined the Jefferson Dancers my junior year with more confidence and more experience.

I like to keep my grades up because I have really high standards for myself. Ever since middle school my mindset has been to be the greatest person I can be both mentally and physically. I like pushing myself to my limits and changing myself. I believe that is the best way to grow.

After high school I would like to go to college somewhere far away. I would like to take dance classes and learn more techniques, styles, and cultures. Although I have literally no idea what I want to study or were I want to go.

I have never traveled outside of the United States. Traveling is very new to me, the only time I’ve traveled was last year’s trip to Pittsburgh with the Jefferson dancers, for the National High School Dance Festival 2016.

I want to go to France because I have always dreamed of traveling and I never saw it as a possibility until now. Traveling to France will broaden my experiences and my horizons and help my last year as a Jefferson dancer be my best.

I would be deeply humbled and grateful to anyone who would be willing to help me achieve this dream and travel to France with the Jefferson Dancers.

Thank you for reading my story and thank you in advance for any support you could provide.