The stars came out as the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living presented its second annual School 2 Life gala at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville.

While it was a warm and sunny day outside, the spirit and excitement of the people inside warmed the hearts of all those in attendance.

Appropriately themed "Seize the Day," the gala featured musical performances and an 1890s atmosphere based on the Broadway musical "Newsies."

One of the young adults attending the gala was Samantha Lurwick, 20, a student from Parkland's Class of 2016.

Lurwick has been a member of School 2 Life for four years and has been treasurer for the past two years.

She has just been accepted into Project Search, a program where she will spend nine months learning new skills in anticipation of transitioning from school to work.

"I love to work," said Lurwick, who currently lends her job skills to not one, but three jobs at Goodwill, Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville, and Muhlenberg College.

She also competes in several events at Special Olympics.

"My favorite sport, however, is basketball. I hope we compete at the state finals at Penn State University. We get to stay in the dorms," she said.

Lurwick testified in front of the Labor and Industry Committee of the House of Representatives and was introduced to the House Floor in Harrisburg and played cards with Gov. Tom Wolf.

"At S2L, I have learned to be a better advocate and have made great friends," said Samantha.

Also from Parkland is Lauren Coni, 24, a 2008 graduate of Parkland High School.

Coni is most proud of completing a three-year Career and Independent Living and Learning Skills Program at East Stroudsburg University, where she lived independently in an off-campus house with friends/mentors.

"I want to work in food prep, hopefully in a bakery" said Lauren. "My favorite dish to make is pasta with vodka sauce."

A member of S2L for seven years, Coni has also participated in the Material Handling Lab at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute and has worked as a bagger at Weis Markets and a part-time clerk at St. Luke's Neurology.

The always-smiling Coni told The Press, "I have a lot of memories at S2L. I love most coming to S2L because I like to get together with my friends."

Talented local high school students and younger performers heard the news and traveled from throughout the Lehigh Valley to provide an evening of entertainment.

But, the real highlight of the evening came with the dramatic finale performance by the S2Ler's (as they call themselves), when they ended the event with a rousing rendition of "Seize the Day."

In addition to the live musical performances, the gala included a basket raffle to raise money for School 2 Life.

With donations ranging from The Pennsylvania Shakespeare festival to the Crayola Factory, there was a generous outpouring of support from the community.

The gala was sponsored by Wells Fargo Community Relations Group, Wells Fargo Investment Advisors, and McDermott Investment Advisors LLC.

Other sponsors included Highmark, Inc., The Jeremy Carroll Foundation, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Carol Walck and Associates, and the Frederick H. Bedford Jr and Margaret S. Bedford Charitable Foundation, as well as a host of others.

In its 25-year history, LVCIL has encountered many young adults with disabilities, who have graduated without the necessary supports or skills to find a job, live independently or be self-sufficient.

Seth Hoderewki of Whitehall Township is the current director of transition services at LVCIL. He also heads the efforts of the School 2 Life program.

In 2009, the organization started the program to support young adults with their transition from high school to the real world and teach them essential job skills.