- April 17, 2024
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A "VIP" walks into the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Marcia and Janell Riggs at the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Courtesy photo
Amanda Hershberger, of Edgewater, is escorted by an ROTC member into the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Skylar Elledge, of South Daytona, is escorted by a cheerleader into the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Howie Clatterbuck, of Port Orange, is escorted by a cheerleader into the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Maria Kruise is escorted by a member of the ROTC into the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Jennifer Pietrosante, of Palm Coast, is escorted by an ROTC member into the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Zoe Katz, of South Daytona, dances during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Maria Kruise and Abigail Whelan sit on a throne during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A cheerleader pins a boutonniere on Timothy Elliff, of Palm Coast, during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nichols Ussery, of Holly Hill, dances during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Howie Clatterbuck, of Port Orange, sits on a throne surrounded by Daytona Beach firefighters during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Dan McCaffrey, Caitlin and Brittany Boger, and Ashley McCaffrey pose for the photo booth during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Scott Masters, of Port Orange, dances during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Bailey Brabham, of New Smyrna Beach, sits on a throne surrounded by cheerleaders during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Scott Masters, of Port Orange, grabs some snacks during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Victoria Johnson, of Port Orange, smiles during the Night To Shine prom event at Embry-Riddle on Friday, Feb. 8. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach resident Janell Riggs got the chance to be a princess for a day.
Riggs was one of 165 attendees at the fifth-annual Tim Tebow Foundation's Night To Shine event at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Friday, Feb. 8. Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church hosted the event for the fourth year in a row, and Tomoka Christian Church also participated this year.
Night to Shine provides a prom night for the special needs community, and is held worldwide. At Embry-Riddle, the night started with each prom attendee being escorted down a 150-foot red carpet by either a member of the school's ROTC or a cheerleader. Family members, photographers and volunteers acted as "paparazzi" to welcome them into the prom, where once inside, they enjoyed a live DJ, photo boot, limo rides, a karaoke station and the opportunity to be drawn by one of the three caricature Disney artists.
For event co-chair Bob Coleman, it was a night to show the special needs community they really are kings and queens. These are people who are not always told they are beautiful, he explained, and this is an opportunity to give them a fun evening. He said the community has been engaged every year to help them raise money for the prom because they see what a difference it makes for the local special needs population.
“It’s probably one of the most gratifying things we do," Coleman said.
Riggs' special night started long before the date of the prom. She visited Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church's Glitter and Shine, which helped the prom attendees pick out an outfit to wear. She picked a sequined red dress.
“It reminds me of Princess Jasmine," Riggs said.
