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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - The third annual EveryBuddies Beautiful Fashion Show and pageant brought applause and cheers from students, parents and teachers alike.

The Jan. 23 fundraiser for Plant City High School's Best Buddies club is sponsored by the school's cosmetology department, the Career and Technical Student Association and Skills USA. The event brought together about 150 special-education students and 300 students from the general student body.

Students competed in four categories of dress including: Glam & Glitz; Wild & Way Out; Heritage; and Sportswear. They modeled clothing that ranged from casual and Western wear to superhero costumes.

The models included some students in walkers or wheelchairs, including one who waved a Tampa Bay Buccaneers flag.

"This is a production that the students truly look forward to each year," said Laurel Ritenbaugh, a cosmetology teacher at the school. "A lot of work goes into the planning, costumes and choreography. But it's well worth it in the end. We will work to make it better each year."

Ritenbaugh is the school's SkillsUSA adviser and organizer of the fashion show and pageant.
Fredi Cary, the Hillsborough County schools manager for communications and marketing for career, technical and adult education, attended the Best Buddies fundraiser for the first time.

"This was an amazing event put on by students and staff," Cary said. "It was a joy to watch and obviously a joy to be a part of. The parents and students seemed to have a great time."

Although the show and pageant lasted about 90 minutes, there was a 15-minute delay to get the sound system running and minor delays during the production. Scheduled to start at 7 p.m., the event lasted until about 9 p.m.

"I can't tell you how much fun this was. Years ago, exceptional students were too often kept in the back of the classroom," Cary said. "But the Best Buddies program takes these wonderful students and places them front and center. They seem to just love the chance to be on stage. I couldn't get enough. They were wonderful."

Students Lonnie Coston and Francis Holbrook were selected as the pageant's king and queen, school Principal Colleen Richardson said.

Michael Paul, an agriculture teacher at the school, was invited to attend by agriculture student Adam Quagliani, an exceptional student who was competing in the program.

"Several of my students are participating tonight," Paul said. "Adam's Best Buddy, Summer Norris, is also an ag student."

The Best Buddies club pairs special education students with students who serve as mentors.

"Best Buddies is a good link between special-education students and the students in the general population. The special-ed students are fused into the general population. Just by being in common classes, all the students prosper," Paul said.

The Best Buddies club is part of a nationwide organization created by the Kennedy Foundation to support special-education students in middle schools, high schools and in the business community. Best Buddies is the largest extracurricular club at Plant City High, with more than 500 students involved.

Paul said he sees students benefit from the program.

"Adam is pretty outgoing anyway, but I have seen him draw closer to the other students during his two years in the Best Buddies club," he said.

Lauren Roberts, an English teacher at the school, said Best Buddies is one of the most interactive programs on campus and one that she strongly wants to support.

"I know a number of students who have been involved in Best Buddies," Roberts said. "When it comes time to join clubs, the students in my class always look to Best Buddies and Special Olympics. They can see the value in participating. These programs mean a lot to all our students."

Liesta Sykes, a Florida Department of Children and Families employee, said she enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding the show and pageant.

"My son, Aaron, is part of the general school population who enjoys being a part of the Best Buddies program," Sykes said. "Aaron is president of the junior class. This is his first year in Best Buddies, but he loves it."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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