Junior Miss Apple Festival Hannah Montgomery, a student at Niles High School, poses for a picture with John Patrick Riordan, a resident at Healthwin in South Bend. Riordan was crowned king of the senior prom at Healthwin, where area students volunteered to help with the dance. (Daily Star Photo/Provided)

By KATIE JOHNSON

Niles Daily Star

John Patrick Riordan could only demonstrate his shaking hands Friday evening when asked what it felt like to be crowned king of the senior prom.

But this wasn’t a high school event — it was at a nursing home. However, students from Niles High School, Buchanan, South Bend and the University of Notre Dame were guests at the annual affair.

“We do a senior prom every year,” said Karen Martindale, volunteer coordinator at Healthwin, located on Darden Road near Indiana 933.

Twenty-two student volunteers were recruited from the Ronald McDonald House and high schools, but some are regular Healthwin volunteers and area pageant royalty, Martindale said. They danced with the residents and chatted with them.

The event, with the theme “An Evening in the Orient,” is usually held outside, but temperatures of higher than 90 degrees pushed the prom indoors.

About 60 residents participated, and were treated to manicures and makeup by Mary Kay representatives prior to the prom. A clothing store even donated second-hand dresses. A king and queen were chosen randomly.

“They look forward to it,” Martindale said.