ALTOONA, Pa. -- For so many people, there is a clear divide between young and old. It is like they come from two different worlds. But students at Altoona Area High School have found a way to bridge that generation gap.

For the past several years, the student council has sponsored an annual dance for area senior citizens.

"They deserve a chance to get out and have some fun and meet new people," said 10th-grader Karina Cheung.

Students don't just set up, wait tables and clean up afterwards. They mix and mingle and said the event is something they look forward to all year. "Last year I actually learned a line dance from a couple of women, and we danced the same dance to every song. It was just a really good time," said 12th-grader Alyssa Stangl.

But students learn more than just new dance steps. One lasting lesson is that there is a lot of life left to live after 65. "When we first began these dances, sophomores who came in for the first time viewed senior citizens as all in wheelchairs, unable to dance. And there are some people that come to these dances that tire our kids out from dancing," said David Aboud, student council adviser.

Seniors added that they walk away learning a little something new themselves. "You never hear anything about the good kids," said Olive Savino, 87. "All you hear is the bad, and we've got a lot of nice young men and women."

But students stressed they are not focused on trying to make themselves look good. They simply want to give the older generation a little hope.

"There is a perception that high school students aren't the most caring people and we like to goof off, but that's not true," said Joshua Helsley, student council president. "And by student council's doing this, maybe we can show the elderly that there is a good future to America."