Being selected from hundreds of applicants across the country and photographed for the cover of a magazine may seem like an unlikely feat for a high school senior, but two Valley Stream High School students have done just that.

Forty thousand copies of a TV Guide-sized magazine called Prom Guide 2002, which bills itself as "the number one source for prom information," will feature Valley Stream North student and Franklin Square resident Vito Genova in a tuxedo and Valley Stream Central High School student Mehreen Hayat in a grey prom dress on its cover.

After an application, which asked for information about grades and school activities was submitted, an online nationwide vote was taken. The vote results in 25 semifinalists with Vito and Mehreen included.

In November, all 25 were flown to New York City, or in the case of Vito and Mehreen, picked up by a limousine for a photo shoot in designer prom wear and a spot on an MTV commercial, which will run in April.

On January 19, Vito and Mehreen attended a release party at the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan, hosted by Fat Man Scoop of HOT 97 Radio. They were dazzled by a prom fashion show.

"It was very suspenseful, with drum rolls and all," said Vito.

Two finalists for each of eight magazine covers around the country were announced by the Prom Guide's fashion editor. The awards ceremony included the presentation of wooden plaques and students' acceptance speeches. The finale was the descent from the ceiling of large posters showing the eight covers with the 16 winning seniors.

Vito ended up on two magazine covers - one with Mehreen and one with a girl from Pennsylvania. The other seven covers were distributed in schools in California, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York City and other areas.

"I was really surprised an excited," said Mehreen, who plans to study criminal law in college.

"I thought it was amazing to win something like this," said Vito, who is a national bowling champion and plans on becoming a physical therapist after college.