(TOPEKA, Kan.) - Jerrica Ewald of Newtown, Pa., wowed her friends by arriving at her ninth-grade farewell formal on May 12 with the date-of-a-lifetime. But Ewald didn't have just one date - three celebrities escorted the lucky ninth grader to her first formal dance. Bryan Chan, Ikaika Kahoano, and Mike Miller - all members of the up-and-coming pop band LMNT (pronounced "element") - accompanied Ewald after she won a sweepstakes sponsored by Payless ShoeSource and Teen People magazine.

"Payless wanted one teen in America to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience at her school formal this year," said John Haugh, senior vice president of marketing for Payless.  "We hope Ms. Ewald enjoyed dancing the night away with LMNT and are glad Payless could play a part in making her first formal dance unforgettable."

Payless and Teen People succeeded in making Ewald's first formal one that will be tough to top. LMNT has been featured in several national teen publications.  Three of the band members participated in the ABC hit television series "Making The Band," a reality-based show that chronicled the creation of a pop group.  The fourth member of the group, Matt Morrison, made his Broadway debut in Footloose prior to joining LMNT. The group is currently recording songs for an upcoming album, with a major record deal to be announced soon.

The three LMNT members arrived to pick Ewald up Saturday evening in a white stretch limousine, slipped a corsage of yellow roses on her wrist and whisked her off to her school dance. As a special treat, LMNT performed two of their soon-to-be-released songs, signed autographs and took pictures at the dance with Ewald and her classmates. "I still can't believe I won. Going to my farewell formal with LMNT was definitely something I won't forget and a great early birthday gift. The whole experience made me feel like Cinderella!" Ewald said. She celebrates her fifteenth birthday on May 16.

In addition to the celebrity date, Payless provided Ewald with a dress, coordinating Payless shoes, hair styling, a makeover and a limousine for her special date.