Community service is at the core of Greek life at Ohio Northern. Greek students recently gave several local children with special needs the chance to be a king or a queen in their own right.

Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is a special worldwide event that began in 2014 as a way to celebrate those with special needs by giving them a classic prom experience, something many of them never have the chance to experience otherwise.

The Lima First Assembly of God Church was one of the original 44 sites to participate in the event, and ONU’s Greek students have been involved from the start.

The way the event works is that guests with special needs are paired up with “buddies” to escort them to their very own prom night. The buddies consist of students from local colleges and high schools.

ONU’s Greek students are always looking for opportunities to serve others, and ONU professor and Delta Sigma Phi advisor Keith Durkin, who attends the host church, thought this to be an opportunity for the students to help give others have a chance to shine.

“I believe service is essential for both the Greek community as a whole and for its members individually,” says Durkin. “I’ve always been bothered by the horrible misconceptions people have about the Greeks. This involves everything from elitism to excessive partying. Nothing could be further from the truth. Night to Shine is a wonderful chance for Greeks to let the public see what they are really about.”

It was certainly a sight to behold, with music, dancing and lights everywhere and, of course, kids having the time of their lives.

Night to Shine has grown significantly since its inception, with 125 guests attending this year at the Lima site. More than 100 ONU students have been involved each year for the past three years. Without their help, it wouldn’t be possible to give so many extraordinary people such a special night to remember.