Bingham High prom king and his court stand together with big hearts

When Hayden Nickel was announced as prom king at Bingham High School’s prom this year, it was a crowning moment, not only for Hayden, but for the entire school.

The minute Hayden’s name was announced the entire crowd erupted in cheers for everyone’s friend, a classmate with Down Syndrome.

“It was a really cool experience seeing Hayden up there with his excited face. Everyone was so excited...Hayden has the most school spirit. He’s the best prom king we could have ever picked,” Kayla Huff, a fellow Miner, said.

“Hayden won by a landslide. It wasn’t a sympathy vote. People really wanted him to win because of who he is,” Jayson Isbell, one of the school’s special needs aides, said.

As it is for many juniors, it was a night to remember for Hayden. He and his date Courtney Baggett, met with other special needs students and their dates at the school and traveled together to Madeline’s for dinner and then to the Capitol for the prom.

Some of Hayden’s favorite moments were when everyone was chanting his name, being carried around the Capitol on his classmates’ shoulders, and, of course, dancing with his really good friend and prom queen, Mattie Watts.

Christy Nickel, Hayden’s mom, said that Hayden’s older sister and brother, who graduated from Bingham High in 2006 and 2008, predicted this would happen.

“They knew this or something like this would happen for Hayden because Bingham High is such a wonderful school,” she said.

 “Last year when Hayden was a sophomore, there were student body officers and cheerleaders that took him under their wing and led the way for everybody to be Hayden’s friends. It has just snowballed, and everybody has followed each other’s good examples,” Nickel said.

At Bingham High, students have the opportunity to participate in an elective class called peer tutoring in which they get to work with special needs students.

“As a mom, it touches my heart to see how everyone accepts Hayden for who he is. When we moved here about nine years ago, we were told how great the peer-tutoring program is. To see these kids work so close and become Hayden’s friends, real friends, is amazing. I wish all schools had this program and could learn from it,” Nickel said.

“Hayden teaches people to see each other for who they are. He doesn’t see religion, ethnicity or differences. Hayden sees people, and he teaches others to do the same. Hayden has united our student body,” Jared Denslow, Hayden’s teacher, said.

Hayden not only has many good friends at school, he is a good friend to everyone around him.

“He’s just a good friend. We all try to befriend him, but he’s the one who reaches out. He comes to support us in whatever we’re doing,” said one classmate, Anthony VanDongen.

Kayla Huff recounted how after a performance of the school play in which she had a leading role, Hayden rushed onto the stage to present her with flowers. His mom said it was all Hayden’s idea.

It isn’t uncommon to see Hayden at high school events cheering on his classmates. Last year, Hayden joined the swim team and has been there at every meet.

“He’s always wanting to know when our next meet is. And when we’re swimming, he’s always on deck yelling and screaming for all of the swimmers,” Shane Callihan, fellow classmate and top backstroke swimmer, said.

“He’s hung out with us so long, he’s just one of the guys. He’s touched my life. You come to school, and he’ll scream your name and make you feel good no matter what,” Tyler Winkelkotter, a senior, said.

“Hayden is Bingham’s number one fan. Whenever I see Hayden, it just makes my day,” Garrett Kordsiemon, a member of the soccer team, said.

Mike Nickel, Hayden’s dad, wishes he had enough money to take the school to dinner or do something to express his gratitude to the students at Bingham High School for all that they do for his son. From the football team buying all of special needs students Bingham hoodies last year to the friends who always just drop by to hang out with Hayden to Hayden’s being crowned prom king, Nickel feels that everyone benefits, especially Hayden.

“For me, it’s all about the students who include Hayden in everything; how they treat the whole special needs class. I just want to give a big thank you to all of the students at Bingham High,” he said.