Shining Star Prom 2019
Treasures of the Sea
What Lies Beneath?
Special needs high school students in our
area will fi nd that out on April 27 th when
they attend the Shining Star Prom 2019,
“Treasures of the Sea,” which will once
again be held at the Lodge on the Hill
(also known as the Gilroy Elks Lodge).
This is the third year that Linda Estill
and her enthusiastic committee have taken
on the task of organizing this event that has
become so popular with the students, their
families, teachers and aides. Thanks to a
very generous grant from the Gilroy Rotary
Club again this year, most of the venue and
food costs have been covered. Coldwell
Banker Real Estate is providing a donation
from its annual fundraiser that will make
it possible to provide extraordinary
decorations, keepsake souvenirs, a karaoke
DJ and so much more to help make the
evening memorable.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity
of this community as expressed in not only
monetary donations but also by offering
their services, expertise, products and over-
all support,” Ms. Estill commended. “Each
year we get more volunteers and people
just wanting to be a part of the event in any
way that they can contribute. It’s probably
the most rewarding endeavor I’ve ever
undertaken and that sentiment has been
expressed by all who become involved.”
The theme for Shining Star Prom
2018 was “April in Paris.” Attendees were
greeted by energetic cheerleaders from
Christopher High School. Student guests
were treated to an onsite salon where vol-
unteers from Gavilan College Cosmetology
Department and local cosmetologist,
Kiersten Vavoulis made the girls feel
glamorous and the guys feel and look
like GQ models. Habing Family Funeral
Home and Frank’s Florist made sure
that each student was adorned with
festive corsages and boutonnieres. There
were enough corsages that almost every
mother was given one as well.
DJ Extraordinaire Javier Marquez kept
the tunes spinning and the kids on their
feet all night long. He knew just what
they wanted to hear. Javier has once
again agreed to be our DJ at no cost.
Graphic designer Dave Ramos
contributed his artistic talents to design
our sponsorship banner and Waseem
Rabih of the Print Shop did the printing.
TODAY once again provided
widespread publicity and support.
Wafelbakker-Anderson Orthodontics
sponsored a photo booth where guests’
zany photos were inserted into custom-
themed frames purchased through a
generous grant from Gilroy Foundation.
Memories of the event were captured in
hundreds of still photos taken by local
photographer, Marie Borba. This will be
the third year that she will be donating
her services to our prom. Zach Patterson
of Patterson Films provided us with a
fabulous video that is posted, along with
Marie’s photos, on our Facebook page:
facebook.com/shiningstarprom/.
The many volunteers who participated
in our 2018 prom were treated to a feast
provided at no cost for the second year
in a row by Adam Sanchez and Ann
Zyburra of The Milias Restaurant.
gmh
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
april/may 2019
If you know of any special needs, high
school-aged individuals who do not attend
public school in this area and might like
to participate in our prom, please contact
Linda Estill, (408) 848-5092 or festive@
garlic.com.
gmhtoday.com
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