TWall/BBall event bigger than ever

Nearly 600 students with special needs from throughout Washtenaw County visited Greenhills Friday for the school’s annual TWall/BBall celebration, a tradition at the school for more than 15 years.

The event, organized and hosted by Greenhills students, paired each visiting student with a Greenhills student for a day that included basketball, cakewalks, indoor party games, a dance party, and fortune telling. There was even a petting zoo.

In the end, the visitors weren’t the only ones who had a good time and grew as a result of the experience.

“From my perspective, it’s seeing teachers and students working in a zone – there’s just so much energy,” said Greenhills Service Learning Director Alyssa Friendly. “Kids who are shy in class are all of a sudden out dancing, busting a move at the cakewalk.”

Student co-chairs Alaina Riker and Pallavi Prabhu agreed.

“There are very few service events that I’ve experienced that are so personal and so meaningful, and to be able to share this event with Greenhills students that I’ve grown up with is incredible,” Prabhu said. “I’m convinced that the simplest definition of service is bringing people joy.”

Check out a Flickr page of photos from the event.