HOWLAND - Like any high school senior, John Prokup Jr. wants to be crowned king at tonight's Howland High School prom.
But unlike other students, the 19-year-old Prokup has Down Syndrome and will be joined on the prom court by his younger sister and fellow classmate, Jessica, who turns 18 today.
It was Jessica who started the campaign to get her brother nominated for prom court, but she said it didn't take much to convince other students to vote for him. John is among five boys vying for king, and Jessica is among five girls vying for queen.
The siblings could be crowned together, but they won't know until the winners are announced tonight during the event at Packard Music Hall and Convention Center.
John, whose nickname is ''Trackman'' runs the 100-meter dash on the Howland track team. He also plays soccer and baseball in special-needs leagues.
Jessica is vice president of National Honor Society, plays soccer, is on the track team, drama club, Students Against Drunk Driving and choir, among others.
After graduation, John will work two more years through the school-work program and then volunteer at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital, while Jessica plans to attend the Ohio State University with a major in molecular genetics.
At the Prokup's Shady Lane N.E. home on Friday, Jessica was wearing a bright pink t-shirt with her brother's picture with the slogan "Vote for John Prokup." On the back, it read "John 4 Prom King."
"Johnny is quite popular. I had several other court nominees tell me they planned to vote for him on Saturday,'' she said. ''I started a mass texting campaign to get people to vote for him.''
John said he is wearing a black tuxedo with a red tie, cumberbund and a red rose boutonniere, bought by Jessica's friend who insisted on it.
Jessica, meanwhile will be wearing a black and white prom dress. Neither John nor Jessica has a date for the prom, and Jessica said she'll be attending with a group of friends.
Their mother, Julie, said part of the reason John is so popular is because he has been in regular classes since kindergarten with the help of his educational assistant Susie Ross.
''He has grown up with all these kids. When they were younger, the kids would brag about his accomplishments and say stuff like 'Mrs. Prokup, Johnny can read.' They always make him feel good about himself,'' she said.
