Teresa Owens is an instructor of the Specialized Curriculum in the Department of Educator Preparation. She has been the faculty director of the Special Populations Dances for over 10 years and considers these dances to be an important aspect of her career.

The Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) at High Point University partners with High Point Parks and Recreation to host these dances. They take place off campus at the Morehead Recreation Center in High Point.

Disabled individuals in High Point and the surrounding communities attend and benefit from the dances. Ages of participants range from elementary school students to adults. The dances provide participants with the opportunity to see old friends, make new friends and gather as a community. Attendees and volunteers are encouraged to dance and enjoy the food, as well.

There are multiple ways to get involved with the Special Populations Dances and the SCEC on campus. Greek Life and other organizations on campus promote these dances by asking different organizations to get involved or donate supplies.

Everyone interested in attending the event is welcome and no tickets are necessary to attend. The dances are held in October with a Halloween theme, December with a holiday theme and February with a Valentine’s theme.

At this month’s SCEC-hosted Special Populations dance, HPU student volunteers and attendees created homemade Valentine’s Day cards for their loved ones. SCEC has an on-campus committee that hosts these dances each year. There is a Special Populations chair and co-chair. The 2019-2020 chair is Rebecca Magod, a senior at HPU majoring in special education.

The co- chair this year is Kristina Sheehy a junior and special education major. The two take on the responsibility of planning the dances. Refreshments are donated by faculty, students and local businesses to the SCEC committee.