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ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission approved a funding request Thursday that will support a first-ever event in the county.
Sydney Megna, secretary for Student Government at Davis & Elkins College, made an information presentation and funding request to the commission during the meeting. Megna told the commissioners about a project her organization is currently working on.
"I'm here representing Student Government today and we have a project we are trying to get done at Davis & Elkins," she said. "We want to host a Night to Shine event, and if you've never heard of Night to Shine, it's a prom for students with disabilities that is aimed at high school students."
Megna told Commissioners Cris Siler, David Kesling and Chris See that students from Randolph County would attend the event. She also noted that she is currently working with officials from the county's school system.
"We've been working with April Senic, who is in charge of special education in Randolph County," Megna said. "She has been helping us get all the information out to students."
Megna said funding is the biggest obstacle the student government is facing. She said the organization applied for grants, but none of them had come through.
"We weren't able to get the grants we applied for, but our student government has stepped up and they are willing to match a lot of the funds that we get," Megna said. "So we are asking if you guys would be willing to give us some of the funds. It's going back toward Randolph County and I think it would be a really great thing to have here."
Night to Shine is a complementary event for people with special needs ages 14 and older. The event is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and is typically held on the same date worldwide in February.
"There are only two Night to Shine events in the state right now and one of them is in Fairmont," said Megna. "I've had the chance to work with (that) event before and it's a really positive thing that the community can come together on. We are working on partnering with the autism center and there are a lot of students on campus who are excited to get involved with this."
Megna said her organization was initially looking to hold the event on Feb. 9, but because funding fell through, they are now planning to have the event on March 16.
"I really think this is a great program and we would really like to help you with it," Siler said.
The commission unanimously voted to help fund the event with $2,000. The money will be taken from the courthouse contractual line item of the county's budget.
For more information on the event, email whitec1@dewv.edu or call 304-621-7339.