Lebanon High junior Cole Ledford, the event’s student chair, said it was great being able to watch how excited students were to be dressed up for the occasion.
“It’s really nice how we get to enjoy our prom but it’s more fulfilling to help them out with their prom,” Ledford said.
Members of the school’s Junior ROTC escorted the decked out students through a saber arch as each of them was introduced at the start of the prom.
Family, friends and classmates applauded and snapped photographs as students rolled, strolled or strutted through the ceremony.
Lebanon student Tyler Scott, a Junior ROTC mission support officer, said he was honored to be part of the event.
“They shouldn’t be treated any different than the rest of us,” he said. “People pretend as if they’re not like us but they’re exactly like us.”
Paige Hubbard, one of 22 Lebanon High School student volunteers, agreed. “They just want to have a good time,” said Hubbard after she twirled around the dance floor in the arms of Michael Robinson. “I’m glad we have this program.”
Fellow volunteer Christina Cain, said the event is invaluable to students with special needs. “Since they can’t come to prom like ordinary kids, I think it’s important that they can have their own event to have fun,” she said.
In addition to dancing, the event offered portrait photographs and games like cornhole and tee-ball.
Ann Brattain, 15, a Lebanon High freshman, said she liked being able to have a good time with friends and appreciated that students volunteered to be a part of the event.
“I think it’s pretty cool and I think it’s nice that they do it for kids who have special needs just so that way they can have something to look forward to, also,” she said.
Amy Dolan of Springboro said the Daylight Prom was “an amazing opportunity” for students with special needs, including her 18-year-old daughter, Rachel Tepe, a senior at Springboro High School.
“They feel so included here because they’re with their peers and they meet friends with similar abilities,” Dolan said. “It brings a tear to my eye to see these kids out here dancing and interacting with our kids and being excited for them. It’s an awesome thing for them to give and I think they get as much out of it as they put into it on both sides.”
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