Wednesday, June 27, 2001

Jerrica Ewald won a dream date with LMNT and reality writer Maren Dougherty tagged along.

After weeks of waiting, Jerrica’s fairy tale evening finally came
true. At 6:15 p.m., LMNT showed up at Jerrica’s Newtown doorstep in a limo. After the requisite boutonniere pinning, corsage sliding, and constant "this feels like I’m back in high school" remarks from the boys, the four headed off to the formal. [More]

JERRICA EWALD GOES TO THE
BALL WITH HANDSOME PRINCES

She won a dream date with LMNT and reality writer Maren Dougherty tagged along.

By MAREN DOUGHERTY
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY

You have been chosen as the recipient of the grand "Prince Charming" prize pack. The night will consist of a fun-filled night accompanied by three boys of LMNT, plenty of Slurpees, and a personal serenading session in front of your 400 classmates. So put on your glass slippers, leave your anxieties behind, and embark on a night of fantasy, courtesy of your friends at Payless ShoeSource and Teen People.

	LMNT band members Bryan Chan, Ikaika Kahoano and Mike Miller get a grip on Jerrica Ewald. (Photo: Joe Dixon/Courier Times)

Clearly, this is not the actual letter Jerrica Ewald tore open in March when she was notified of her winnings. That letter would have also included info about the free limousine ride, a sparkling new gown from Rags to Riches, and a glamorous up-do from the stylists at Pizazz of Newtown.

Months ago, Jerrica entered the Payless contest without ever thinking she would win a celebrity prom date. She planned to attend Newtown Junior High’s ninth-grade farewell dance with a few good friends. Little did she know that this dance would turn her into Cinderella, the shining star of the evening.

The Prince Charmings who would escort her to the formal on May 12 were members of the singing group LMNT (pronounced "element"), a musical spin-off of ABC’s reality TV show "Making the Band." Three of the members, Bryan Chan, Mike Miller and Ikaika Kahoano, made it into the final rounds of the show, but then were either cut or decided to leave. The fourth member, Matt Morrison, bedridden with sickness the night of Jerrica’s formal, formerly starred on Broadway’s "Footloose."

After weeks of waiting, Jerrica’s fairy tale evening finally came true. At 6:15 p.m., LMNT showed up at Jerrica’s Newtown doorstep in a limo. After the requisite boutonniere pinning, corsage sliding, and constant "this feels like I’m back in high school" remarks from the boys, the four headed off to the formal.

Meanwhile, back at Newtown Junior High, hundreds of Jerrica’s classmates eagerly awaited their arrival. When the guys stepped out, girls screamed and snapped rapid photos. Jerrica kept cool, even though swarms of females preyed upon her dates.

"It didn’t bother me that all the girls crowded around and danced with them. I was happy that everyone was so excited," assured the mature Jerrica.

Mike Miller said he likes this sort of crowd reaction.

"When we see fans, they might be screaming and seem more excited to see us than we are to see them, but really we are screaming on the inside because we are so grateful to have such fans."

Even the ninth-grade boys seemed excited that LMNT showed up.

"It’s awesome, a celebrity being at a small town like this," exclaimed one tuxedo-clad boy.

Added another, "Yeah they might be rejects on ‘Making the Band,’ but I envy them because all the girls like them. They seem to be doing pretty well on their own."

Mike said he felt bad that some of the girls seemed to be ditching their dates to come dance with him. However, he is quick to note that "most of the guys were cool too."

The climax of the night for Jerrica came when LMNT sang a few of their songs. Since their first album is not due out until summer, she hadn’t heard any of their tracks before. Even though they had to toss around one microphone, and sing a cappella, their pop/R&B voices blew the crowd away.

Another highlight came when Jerrica and Ikaika hit the dance floor. When they went out, no one was dancing. When they started, the rest of the attendees soon joined in. Jerrica said that, by the end of the song, "nearly everyone had started up."

Surely, the night couldn’t have been entirely perfect. Yes, Jerrica insists that her night, in all aspects, was as magical as she had anticipated.

"They made me feel comfortable. They were easy to talk to. It was just perfect," the princess emphasized.

Mike sums up the night: "The crowd was great, Jerrica looked absolutely beautiful, and basically the night could not have been any better."

To catch a little bit of the action that Jerrica and Newtown Junior High experienced, keep a lookout for LMNT’s record, and their scheduled appearance at Neshaminy Mall on Aug. 25.