With warmer weather and more sunshine comes prom season, and you know what that means: TLC’s fifth annual Say Yes to the Prom is back! Kicking off in New York City yesterday, more than 50 students were treated to a full head-to-toe prom experience, with special guests Eden Duncan-Smith and Discovery Communications President and CEO David Zaslav personally attending to wish them well. The students also received a special video message from Michelle Obama. And, of course, no Say Yes to the Prom would be complete without Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta‘s Monte Durham, who was there to share one-on-one styling tips with each student before cheering them on as they walked the runway.

This year, the Discovery’s LifeWorks & Inclusion team and TLC joined forces with AT&T, the Emma Bowen Foundation, JCPenney, Sherri Hill, Men’s Wearhouse and Dinair Airbrush Makeup for Say Yes to the Prom, creating memorable experiences for over 300 top-performing students in five different U.S. cities: NYC, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas and Silver Spring. The annual celebration is even more special this year, extending for the first-time ever to young men in addition to young women.

While it’s definitely exciting to pick out an eye-catching dress or tux, the event’s initiative extends far beyond creating the perfect prom for deserving high school students. Say Yes to the Prom is designed to build self- confidence, empowerment, and relationships. Besides receiving a dress or tux and a head-to-toe makeover, each participant will receive a mentor for the day from Discovery or AT&T.

Check out photos from the NYC event below and stay tuned for the first-ever Say Yes to the Prom special premiering on Friday, May 20 on TLC!