Many students consider Prom Night to be one of the greatest experiences that high school has to offer and the 2013 Alliance High School Prom will be nothing less. It is set to be held April 20 in the Commons Area of the AHS Performing Arts Center and its theme is “An Evening in Paris.”
In addition to the traditional dance, the Junior Class Prom Committee, comprised of a group of juniors elected by their peers to organize Prom, also voted to include a dinner at the Westside Event Center for all of the prom attendees. The cost of the dinner is included in the cost of the prom tickets and every ticket purchaser is encouraged to attend. “The committee members proposed the idea of having a Prom dinner and I thought it would be a great opportunity to help make Prom more affordable for everyone,” said Mrs. Michelle Schnell, one of the 2013 Prom sponsors.
After the idea to include a group dinner was proposed Mrs. Schnell contacted Helen Iossi and Tory McVicker, the owners of the Westside Event Center, and they were eager to help make the Prom dinner happen. Helen said she believes, “It will be nice to have all of the kids together and they will be able to enjoy their meal without having to travel.” The dinner will consist of a baked potato, a salad, dinner rolls, a vegetable, and each person’s choice of roast beef, chicken, or shrimp. Desert will not be served at the dinner, however, there will be an ice cream bar provided for students at the Prom dance. Ms. Sue Dimmitt, the other 2013 Prom sponsor said that dinner used to be a common part of Prom Night. “A Prom dinner is a package deal at most schools. We have done it here a few times and it was a package deal. We had food catered into the gymnasium and the students and faculty attended. “
Mrs. Schnell said when the idea was first proposed she, “… began to talk to parents to see if this was something we should do and I heard stories about people paying $75.00-$100.00 for a couple of kids to eat dinner at a restaurant on Prom Night.” As she continued to talk to parents Mrs. Schnell said she also heard from one mother who said last year she cooked Prom Night dinner herself for her daughter, her daughter’s date, and two other couples. “She told me she spent between $100.00-$200.00 at the grocery store to put together a nice dinner and dessert for the six of them. After that, I thought that we should do try to do something to make it more affordable. When Helen and Tori at the Westside Event Center said they could provide a nice meal for the students for $15.00 per person, I thought that sounded pretty good.”
Both Mrs. Schnell and Ms. Dimmitt said they would like to see Prom dinner become an annual tradition at AHS. Ms. Dimmitt said, “In the past, we have wanted to have a dinner at the former Country Club, but since they had paying members, they did not want to deny those members a meal. Now that the Westside Event Center is open to the public, we are able to have this opportunity. We want the students to enjoy this experience, and continue the dinner for years to come.”
To make the dinner experience fun Daniel Marquez and Everett Gerth, who are putting together a lineup of music, will also provide live entertainment. Daniel Marquez said, “When [I] was asked by Mrs. Schnell to headline the dinner, I was thrilled. Everett and I have collaborated on some songs.” Marquez added” I think that dinner on Prom Night will turn out to be a wonderful tradition that the prom-goers will get to be a part of. It gives those attending a time to eat as a group and to get even more pumped for the night’s festivities.”
The total cost for a 2013 Prom ticket is $40.00 dollars per person. Fifteen dollars from the ticket sales will go toward the cost of the dinner and the other $25.00 dollars will be going toward the cost of Prom. Last year’s Prom tickets were $20.00. “We had to raise the ticket price by $5.00 per person. We just didn’t have as much money as they did last year,” said Mrs. Schnell. She went on to say that money from class dues and Prom tickets also covers the costs associated with putting on Senior Breakfast and the graduation ceremony. “Prom is a major fundraiser for senior year,” said Mrs. Schnell. “The money earned at Prom will be used to subsidize money raised from class dues and fundraisers.”
This year’s Prom night festivities kick off at 5:00 with dinner at the Westside Event Center. The attendees can come and go, as they please, to eat anytime between 5:00 and 7:00. Prom Pictures, taken by Just Shoot Me Photographics, will begin at 6:30 in the Commons Area of the PAC for any couples who want to get their photos taken early.
The Grand March will begin at 7:00 in the PAC. The Grand March is, once again, open to the public, at a cost of $1, and the doors will open at 6:45. Mrs. Schnell and Ms. Dimmitt ask those who want to watch The Grand March to please come to the doors on the east side of the PAC. The crowning of Prom Royalty will take place at approximately 8:30, or immediately following The Grand March, and students will be released into the dance after the crowning. The dance concludes at 12:00, and Post Prom will begin shortly after in the AHS gymnasium.
The 2013 Prom promises to, once again, be an exciting event. The Junior Class invites all juniors and seniors to attend the Prom and the pre-prom festivities and to help AHS kick off what will hopefully become a new Prom Night tradition. They also invite all parents, grandparents, relatives, and community members to come see Alliance High’s students at their finest during The Grand March.