Fan Lands Celebrity "Dream Date" for Prom

Teenage girls around the world dream of a date with their favorite star, for one fan that dream has come true

Like hundreds of thousands of high school students, Jeanna Assman of Ontario, California has posters and news clippings of her favorite star on the walls of her room and in her locker at school.

It's a rite of passage for teens to gaze at pictures of their heroes beneath fan magazine slogans of "dream date" and wonder "what if."

What sets Assman apart is that the "what if" has become reality; her favorite celebrity is flying to her hometown to be her prom date.

In 1999 Assman and her mother Rose camped out in order to get a glimpse of recording artist Rikki Lee Travolta arriving for an appearance in the musical West Side Story. They already had tickets to the performance to celebrate Assman's birthday, they just couldn't wait to see their favorite star in person.

Following the performance, Travolta surprised the young fan by bringing her onstage to wish her a happy birthday. He'd learned of the occasion through a letter from the fan's mother, who had read of the actor's commitment to fans.

Assman had recently lost her grandmother to whom she was very close, and in the aftermath she had begun to introvert. Following the on-stage meeting with Travolta, the young fan started sharing the emotions of her loss through letters to star. He surprised her again, not only by responding to her letters, but accompanying her to visit her grandmother's gravesite when nobody else was available.

"I've known what it's like to need a friend," says the recording artist. "We should never be too busy to help someone in need."

Over the years Travolta has continued to mentor Assman, exchanging letters and serving as both confidant and advisor. When in Los Angeles, the actor has routinely visited with Assman's family. Her surviving grandmother bakes Travolta Italian cookies.

"Genetics define lineage, but love defines family," says Travolta. "The people who make my career possible, who take the time to write letters or see my performances -- they are a part of my family."

In 2002, the actor-singer added another hyphenate to his list of accomplishments, becoming a published novelist. In the opening pages of the novel "My Fractured Life" was another surprise for Assman -- her name on the dedication page.

Since he'd been such an important part of her high school years, Assman felt it was important to invite Travolta to attend her June graduation from Claremont High School. Honored by the invitation, but already contractually obligated to an appearance in Chicago on the same date, Travolta asked if there was anything else that would mean as much to her. One thing came to mind...

On Saturday, May 17, Assman will arrive at high school prom in a stretch limousine with her literal "dream date" on her arm: Rikki Lee Travolta, actor-singer-author-friend.