On Friday, February 13, the SAU Rogalski center was transformed into something fit for royalty.
Hosted by St John Vianney Catholic Church, the 8th annual Night to Shine brought together volunteers, students, families, and honored guests for a celebration designed to make every guest feel like a star.
Night to Shine is sponsored worldwide by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The event is an unforgettable prom experience for individuals with special needs.
The night began with a red-carpet entrance, where guests were welcomed with cheers, applause, and flashing cameras. Volunteers lined the walkway, creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of a movie premiere than a campus event.
Event organizer and SAU Student, Kaylen Abrahamsen says, “I work with Special Olympic athletes in the Quad Cities and just knowing that this dance is so special and sometimes our athletes never even get to experience a prom, so it’s really just important to bring inclusion and no better way to do this than on campus.”
More than 375 volunteers helped make the evening possible. Dozens of them fellow Ambrosians, some who served as buddies. Buddies walking alongside their honored guest throughout the night enjoyed dinner, dancing, karaoke, and photo opportunities, giving everyone a chance to shine in their own way.
Jack Breakey, SAU Sophomore and volunteer says, “This event, it was just so much fun, so much enjoyment, and it just made me like, man, I gotta come back to this next year.”
The energy inside the Rogalski Center made it clear: Night to Shine isn’t just a prom, it’s a reminder of what happens when a community creates an inclusive space for all.
Honored guest Abby Ziolaowski says, “it’s really fun, that Saint Ambrose puts this on and now a lot of the students are involved.”
The night ends with each honored guest being given a crown and named king or queen. It was a powerful reminder that the royal treatment is not about decorations or crowns alone, but about dignity, belonging, and a community coming together to celebrate every individual for who they are.
