The invitation with white and gold lettering came home in backpacks and notebooks, and some parents cried.

The card read, “Franklin County High School cordially invites you to A Time to Shine,” a prom for students with special needs. Attached was a letter, essentially saying, “At no cost, what do you need? A tuxedo? Dress? Shoes? Hair and makeup?”

And on the night of April 1, clad in tuxes and fancy dresses, beautiful kids with challenges made their way onto the red carpet and into the back lobby of the school, where sparkling lights cascaded from the ceiling over friends laughing, parents pinning boutonnières, and photographers snapping photos, all amidst music and dancing—so much dancing.

“It was such a cool environment,” said Maddie Rhoton, one of the organizers. “I didn’t feel like anyone was judging anyone for what they were doing and we were all just dancing. It felt like it was just a bunch of people having fun.”

Five high school seniors, Ivy Limbaugh, Jace Smith, Anna Limbaugh, Drake Shull and Rhoton, organized the event after they learned about the idea at a Josten’s Renaissance Conference last year.

After all the work leading up to the event, they said the night was perfect.

“We all felt even, on the same level, disabilities didn’t matter,” Anna said. “Problems didn’t matter; we all felt together.”

In addition to students from FCHS, organizers invited students from special needs programs at Huntland and South Middle School, as well as home school kids.

Lee Brannon, FCHS senior class guidance counselor, estimated about 50 students with special needs attended the event that he called “refreshing.”

“Time to Shine prom gave our community a chance to join forces and be selfless,” he said. “It helped to give a different meaning to why we do what we do. We were all created by the same God and regardless of our different circumstances we all need each other.”

Plenty of students and staff members volunteered to dance, spin tunes, decorate and chaperone to make the event magical.

“A Time to Shine put a smile on my face and joy in my heart,” Brannon added. “I am so thankful for the opportunity I had seeing others smile.”

Prom king and queen were selected via a drawing among high school students and Laurie May and Austin Norris won the crowns.

“I was happy,” May said on April 7.

The prom queen said this was her first dance and she enjoyed it, but didn’t like dressing up.

“When Austin started blowing kisses to the crowd that was probably my favorite part of the night,” Ivy said. “That was just so funny, and I was really glad it was him.”

Area businesses donated to the festivities, including tuxedos and dresses, beauty services, food, water and other items. Organizers called the community support “overwhelming” and said the prom will be an annual event, with upcoming seniors taking the reins.

“We never lost sight of what we wanted to happen,” Ivy said. “We were just so pushed to make it happen.”

Her sister Anna added, “I wanted to feel like they got their night; it could be all about them. I feel like they don’t always get that.”

Some of the attendees talked about their prom experience the following week in Kari Myers’ comprehensive development class (CDC) at FCHS.

“Just watching them have a good time was the best part. It was fun,” Myers said. “A lot of them haven’t been to dances before. It brought tears to my eyes seeing them all dressed up in their tuxes and dresses.”

Ninth grader Mason Martin said “slow dance and break dance” were his favorite parts of the prom.

His classmate Jacob Gamble, a big Luke Bryan fan, said the food was his favorite part, especially the chicken. Trenton Haley said he is a pretty good dancer and it made him feel good to wear a tux.

Megan Hartwig said she liked dancing and really enjoyed the song “Honey Bee” by Blake Shelton.

Tenth-grader Cozy Metcalf said taking pictures with her friends was her favorite part of the prom, and classmate Austin Johnson said he had fun and plans to go back next year.

Several of the five main organizers said they had more fun at this prom than the traditional prom last year.

“I just wanted them to have the same experiences that we have,” Smith said. “A lot of times I found myself just sitting back and watching and it didn’t get old, just watching the look on their faces.”

Organizers said in addition to having fun, they wanted to promote relationships between students in special needs classes and other students.

Grateful parents showed their appreciation after the prom.

“I had multiple parents hug me, crying, congratulating us on how well it turned out, and thanking us for making it possible for their child,” Anna said.