Megan Williams

mwilliams@newsleader.com

STUARTS DRAFT — It's not every day that the prospect of eating catfish is an enticement to go to prom with someone.

But Rachel Sauder knew that if she was going to ask one of the most popular guys at her school to go to prom with her, she should put her best foot forward. And Tyler Hemp is indeed one of the most popular guys at Stuarts Draft High School. The ladies love Tyler.

It was a Friday mid-morning. The frenetic energy in the sunny cafeteria was what you would expect the day before the weekend. High energy, and a certain lack of focus. Rachel, with the same energy, touched with a hint of nerves, entered the cafeteria, a box of doughnuts in hand. She was fully aware of what she was about to do, and the fact that her friends would be watching, glued to the scene as if it were the finale of The Bachelor.

She pushed through the nerves, reached the person she was looking for, and with her head back, said simply, "Tyler, I have something to ask you. Would you eat some catfish and go to prom with me?" Rachel turned the box of doughnuts upside down to reveal a sign that read "PROM?"

Tyler, seemingly caught off guard, at first, gave Rachel a quick, but enthusiastic, "Yeah!"

And the tumult that broke out throughout the Draft cafeteria was enough to bring tears to the eyes of the most cynical of bystanders, even those who see the trend of "prom-posals" as silly and unnecessary. Because the look on Tyler's face was that of pure joy and exultation.

The teen, who has special needs, clapped his hands, stood up from his seat. He jumped up and down as cheers reigned down on them both. He took the donuts from a laughing Rachel's hands, and at the suggestion from someone watching, gave Rachel a big hug.

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Still running high from the unexpected prom-posal, Tyler then took off down the cafeteria on what is now considered his "victory lap."

"Tyler has become kind of a celebrity now," said Jamie Hemp of her son. "He's getting recognized when we go out. People came up to us at Food Lion and said "'I saw you in that video.'"

POPULAR AT SCHOOL

Tyler Hemp loves anything social. That extends to everything from visiting with friends, to receiving emails, to anything social media. He loves Facebook, Snapchat, and definitely selfies. He is epitome of someone who has never met a stranger.

"He's very giggly, very much the jokester," Jamie Hemp said. "He's very loving. There isn't a mean bone in his body." Hemp added that Tyler is a fan of hugging people he sees in public, and that police officers and firemen are his heroes. "It can get kind of awkward when he unexpectedly goes to hug a police officer," Hemp said with a laugh.

"He's just a really good boy. He's always been a really good boy."

Rachel will likely be this year's salutatorian at Draft, she also participates in sports and many organizations. She became a member of the Partner's Club at Stuarts Draft High School during her freshman year. She spends time in the exceptional learners classroom, forming a special bond with them. But none so more than Tyler.

Rachel visits with Tyler in the mornings, along with friends and fellow soccer players Courtney Beadles and Abby Rodgers. Prom is fast approaching and so the topic of conversation one morning was whoo they were going to take as dates.

Rachel, concerned about how prom, and specifically dancing at prom, can become inappropriate, she lamented that maybe she wouldn't take a date to her senior prom. But then she had an idea. Why not take a good friend? One that she knew loved to be life of the party: Tyler.

"We mentioned taking someone who loved to dance and have fun," Abby said. That was two weeks ago, during which they planned the perfect prom-posal for Rachel to ask Tyler.

"He loves food," Rachel said. "Anything food, especially catfish. I knew if I mentioned catfish he would say yes."

Of course, the moment went off perfectly.

"What did you say to Rachel when she asked you?" said Kathy Saplak, Tyler's teacher.

"Thank you!" Tyler said.

RIGHT MOMENT AT RIGHT TIME

If ever the Hemp family needed a moment of joy, it's now. Tyler's father, Matt, is battling stage four colon cancer. He was diagnosed in January.

"He went in for back pain," Hemp said of her husband. "We did not expect that."

Matt went in for his third chemo treatment on Thursday. The experience has been overwhelming for the Hemp family to say the least. There is a GoFundMe account set up for them by friends.

But hearing that Tyler was asked to the prom by his good friend, has brought a light to the family's difficult reality. When Matt found out that his son was going to prom he said, "Way to go little man!"

Neither Jamie nor her husband went to prom themselves and were excited to hear that Tyler would be. "You always wonder, being a mom with a special needs child, what opportunities they will have."

Tyler's teacher Kathy Saplak said she's not sure how much Tyler knows or comprehends about his dad's illness, but that this prom-posal couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

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"He's been sick for awhile," Tyler said.

SPECIAL PLACE

If you don't know the relationship that special needs students share with the general student population at Stuarts Draft High School, it would be hard to explain the level of inclusivity these students are afforded. They sit with the athletes at lunch, they receive emails and high fives from their peers, and the Partner's Club ensures that they are almost always included in school activities.

"All of us love hanging out with kids with special needs," said Courtney Beadles, who has also been in Partner's Club since freshman year. "We like to interact with them and include them in things we like to do."

Saplak has been an exceptional learners teacher at Stuarts Draft for 3 years, but has taught in Augusta County for 17. She's seen first hand how unique the program is.

"SDHS is such a unique place to work," she said. "From the administration and faculty to the cafeteria workers and custodians, the exceptional learners are treated with dignity and respect."

In her experience, the regular education students treat the exceptional learners like "rock stars."

"I think we would all agree that we are all lucky and blessed to have each other," Saplak said.

READY FOR BIG DAY

Draft's prom will take place on April 8. In preparation for the big day, Tyler got fitted for a tux thanks to the Cinderella Project, which helps area students who can't afford it, get outfitted for prom — from shoes, to purses to tuxes.

A local florist has donated a corsage for Tyler to give to Rachel. They will take pictures at Tyler's house before having dinner at friend's house with Abby, Courtney and Courtney's boyfriend, Saplak said. And then on to prom to dance the night away.

"But no kissing at prom," Saplak joked.

Tyler's cheeks flushed red: "Okay, okay, okay!"

20 years later, she still commutes from Highland County