Prom season is a special time of year, favored among many high school juniors and seniors. For this year’s theme, the junior class officers chose “Enchanted Garden.” Decorated with vines and fairy lights, students walked down the stage in their gowns and tuxedos for the anticipated Grand March.
Grand March is a ceremony for students and their prom dates to walk down the stage for their families and friends to watch them before they go to the dance. The ceremony took place in the high school auditorium at 7:00 p.m. on May 12. Couples 1-90 walked down the stage and down the auditorium aisles as their friends and family cheered for them.
After the ceremony, students were to drive to the Courtyard by the Marriott Hotel in Cranberry Township, for the dance from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Students arrived and filed into the hotel where they had a bag check, and then promptly voted for one prom king and queen.
The night started with a catered dinner that included salad, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, chicken breasts, roast beef, bread rolls and cookies for dessert. Music played in the background with the lights on, and students ate and socialized at their tables. While taking photos and talking with friends, students waited to start the party.
Once dinner finished, the lights turned off and the disco lights dazzled the room. Students made their way to the dance floor to dance with their dates and friends. Students danced the night away and made their way to the lobby for various activities throughout the night. Included in the lobby was a photo booth, a balloon artist, airbrush tattoos and two caricature artists. Some groups of students brought games such as UNO, various board games and decks of cards to keep themselves occupied.
As the dancing went on, the prom king and queen were announced. Waiting in anticipation, students pondered who would be the winners. Seniors Katrina Adams and Damian Grunnagle were crowned this year’s prom king and queen. The crowning was followed by a slow dance for the king and queen to “Till I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez. Other couples and friends then joined the king and queen on the dance floor for a slow dance.
“I was honored to have been selected by my peers and didn’t expect to win. I had a great night and could not have asked for a better last prom,” Adams said.
Some students could be found sleeping in the lobby, while others were still out on the dance floor. Breakfast was soon served around 3:00 a.m., featuring different muffins, scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and orange juice.
Nearing the end of the night, all seniors joined together on the dance floor and swayed together to the song “Good Old Days” by Macklemore, where they reminisced about their last four years together. Afterward, the event concluded at 5:00 a.m., and students either were picked up or driven home.
“This prom was a lot better than last year. It was really special to have that last dance with the seniors. The DJ turned on the lights making it a little awkward, but it was still a slay experience,” senior Evan Blinn said.
With the director of the prom, Mr. John Rosa, leaving the district, someone will soon have to take over for next year’s prom and for more up and coming. “Enchanted Garden” was seen to be another success for this year’s prom.