Friday was a night to remember for hundreds of special needs teens across the county who got to experience prom.
The guests of honor were greeted at the Night to Remember prom by a sea of supporters cheering them on and marveling at their regalia as they strutted down a red carpet.
Donated funds helped all the attendees get to prom with a free ticket, dress or tuxedo, jewelry, and hair and make-up. Professional photos were part of the package deal, too.
And there wasn’t a wallflower to be seen. The dance floor was jam-packed with teens getting footloose with their friends, or with a date, like Justin Walsten.
“Justin is hilarious. He's almost constantly happy, loves chicken nuggets and chicken sandwiches more than anything,” Gabriela Maraziti, a senior at Helix High School, said describing her date.
Justin and Gabriela were just two of the 425 students who attended prom.
Justin will be graduating from Helix High in a month and then going into a transitional program for adults with special needs. But on this night, time stood still. He and his friends were excited about every minute, just enjoying being teenagers.
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Justin and his entourage weren’t the only ones leaving prom with a smile. Teachers and volunteers said giving up their Friday night’s so that these kids could have one to remember forever was hardly a chore.
“When everybody kind of pours their love and energy into the students with special needs, everybody benefits," Helix special education teacher Kimberly Fleming said.
