It was a prom-like atmosphere Friday night at Manitowoc Lutheran High School.
The school teamed up with the Tim Tebow Foundation to host A Night to Shine, where those with special needs were treated to a prom focused entirely on them.
Social Studies Teacher Nathan Meitner was one of the main organizers for the event, which he called a true team effort.
“We’ve just had so much help from students and parents and community,” he said. “Last night we were setting up from like 3:00 to like 11:00 last night, and then this morning from like eight to noon again. It’s just been awesome to see everything come together.”
Nathan Meitner
Participants were given the full celebrity treatment, from being paired with a student to guide them through the night to a salon for hair styling, and everyone’s favorite part, the red carpet walk.
“Just watching them walk down or roll down the red carpet and just being able to see all of the people line the red carpet and cheer them on, it’s just so moving,” Meitner noted. “Honestly, almost brought me to tears last year was really, really, really cool.”
Mark Pribek who also works at Ascend Services, tells SeehaferNews.com that he enjoyed the event last year, so he had to come back for the second go around.
As for his favorite parts, Mark said he enjoys, “Dancing with a lot of girls and dancing with a lot of people,” and the red carpet.
Lilly Melhorn was paired with Danny Backus, whom she said she knew from church, and she called the event a very special night.
Mark Pribek
“This is like such a cool event to have,” she said with a beaming smile. “It’s neat to see all of the different people. And that’s my first year doing this. It’s just so cool to see how everyone can interact together and have a great time doing it.”
The event at Manitowoc Lutheran was one of four around Eastern Wisconsin and one of over 600 around the world.
You can see additional pictures from A Night to Shine on the Manitowoc Lutheran High School Facebook page.
