Ellen & Tonic: Getting Results for Constance McMillen

Constance McMillen made her very first national television appearance Friday on Ellen.

The low-key Mississippi teen talked openly about being thrust into the spotlight when her school district decided to cancel her senior prom rather than allow McMillen to attend the dance with her girlfriend. With her father sitting proudly in the audience, she received words of encouragement from outspoken gay-rights activist DeGeneres — who urged the school district to do the right thing, to reverse their decision and to throw McMillen the prom she deserves.

In addition, DeGeneres presented McMillen with a $30,000 scholarship from Tonic — the result of funds raised here on Tonic.com through an anonymous donor, as well as Tonic's founder and CEO, Pankaj Shah, and the generous donations of Tonic readers.

Tonic also offered McMillen an internship at our company, and we're anxiously awaiting word on whether she'll come to New York City this summer to join the Tonic team.

You can read more about McMillen's story here, and more about Tonic's support of McMillen here.

And to really experience the emotion behind this story, watch her appearance on Ellen below!

Screen grab and video courtesy of 'Ellen.'