Occupational Therapy Assistant students enjoy “Night to Shine”

Central Penn’s Occupational Therapy Assistant students and faculty traded their books and laptops for dancing shoes to participate in the 2024 Night to Shine Prom. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience centered on God’s love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older.

Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. the annual Night to Shine event occurs around the world to showcase the love for people of all backgrounds. This opportunity allowed the OTA students to get out of the classroom and interact with a variety of individuals with special needs at all stages of their lifespan. This was experiential learning at its core! Students served as ‘buddies’ for each of the guests and shared dinner, dancing, and other fun activities such as karaoke, limousine rides, and a photo booth.

OFA student Gracie Frymoyer commented on the event “Night to Shine was a fantastic opportunity to translate classroom experience into real-life experience. The event was so fun and a great opportunity to connect with populations we hope to work with in the future! This event was clearly a highlight of the year for guests, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it! I hope to participate again in the future!”

OTA student Jordan Manlove commented, “this may be the highlight of my entire year!”