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Tomorrow finally came for Alexis McDaniels on Friday, March 21.

The 18-year-old Marion girl stood in line with her mother, Jessica Sawyer, dressed in a vivid and fuchsia gown, and giddy with excitement.

She was about to walk the red carpet, and make a grand entry to the 2025 Shine Prom at The Rock Church at 1408 Mill Pond Road in Conway.

鈥淓ver since she got her dress three weeks ago, she鈥檚 been asking 鈥榃hen is the Shine Prom,鈥欌�� Jessica Sawyer said. 鈥淚 kept telling her, 鈥檛omorrow, tomorrow;鈥� tomorrow finally came today."

Conway鈥檚 biggest red carpet event of the year is for residents with special needs and exceptional abilities. And it gets bigger every year.

Attendees walk the red carpet between cheering volunteers lined four deep. They parade past a line of beauty queens, mascots and super heroes. They squeal and hug their friends.

Each prom attendee is crowned a king or queen, and picks up a swag bag at the desk in the church, which is decorated with stars and balloons in abundance.

They鈥檙e dressed in prom attire 鈥� tuxes provided by The Rock; gowns compliments of the Ekklesia Christian Church. That鈥檚 augmented with bling like party glasses, necklaces and glow sticks.

Dinner is served cafeteria style, with heaping plates of party foods including fried chicken, chicken strips, chicken bog and mac and cheese, plus drinks and dessert.

There鈥檚 an activity room, a beauty salon, a crafts room. Carriage rides and photo stations. And a disc jockey playing party tunes as the attendees show off their exceptional abilities on the dance floor in the main auditorium.

The free 2025 event sponsored by HTC attracted a record 250 attendees, and 700 volunteers who helped make it happen, doing everything from directing traffic and serving food to shining shoes, applying makeup and handing out swag bags. A good time was had by all.

Don Hardeman, who attends church at The Rock鈥檚 South Strand Campus, signed up to be one of the shoeshine boys. 鈥淚 got the list of jobs and said, 鈥榮hoe shine; I can do that.'鈥�

His wife Denise was working in the beauty parlor, where volunteers touch up attendees hair, apply make-up and do nails.

鈥淚t takes a lot of help to put on the prom, and it鈥檚 just a good thing to do. I鈥檓 having a great time,鈥� said Hardeman, after shining Mark Bozzo鈥檚 cowboy boots.

Bozzo, 19, of Aynor, got his boots shined after taking a carriage ride in the parking lot with his prom buddies, Grace Richardson and Riley Cooper. He was heading to the dance floor, where he hoped to hear his favorite song, Beautiful Crazy by country artist Luke Combs.

Every king and queen is assigned a volunteer prom buddy, many of them local high school and college students, who help the guests navigate the event while sharing in the fun.

Attendee Justin Wilkes, 35, of Conway, was teamed with volunteer Paul Hartman, a freshman football player at Coastal Carolina University. The pair performed on the karaoke stage, belting out Celebration by Kool and the Gang.

When told that he rocked the room, Wilkes said: 鈥淵ou got that right, buddy.鈥�

Asked if he sings better than his partner, Hartman cut in, admitting as much. 鈥淚 think you do, man. Justin was getting down up there."

John Rukenbred of Conway came ready to party.

On the red carpet he raised his outstretched arms, palms up, telling the crowd to pump up the volume. He gave Coastal Carolina University Mascot Chauncey a high five. He put on his crown and struck a pose for a photographer.

鈥淒ancing and food,鈥� Rukenbred said, explaining what he likes best about the Shine Prom. 鈥淚 come every year. I鈥檝e been thinking about this for a while."

Junior CCU football players Myles Mooyoung and La'Damion Williams were his prom buddies.

鈥淲e picked John; he鈥檚 the king,鈥� Williams said.

So is Matthew Elvis, 20, of Conway. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 E-L-V-I-S like Elvis Presley,鈥� he told a reporter.

Elvis said he was attending his fifth or sixth prom. He likes the food and the dancing. 鈥淐otton Eye Joe (line dance) is my favorite.鈥�

But mostly he likes spending time with other folks with exceptional abilities. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just fun to hang out with a lot of friends,鈥� he said.