Prom is one of the most anticipated events for high school students and with that anticipation comes much planning and fundraising.
In order to plan for prom, a parent/student committee is formed to help raise money to fund prom each year. Without this committee of people, the junior class would not be able to put on prom as there would not be anyone to organize and plan ideas nor would there be the funds that come from the fundraising.
Each week the committee, consisting of parents and students, meets at a restaurant to have dinner and talk about their next steps and plans towards making this year’s prom better than last.
Co-leader Stacey Sechrest stated, “The next steps are putting together a student committee to work alongside the parent committee so they can start planning this upcoming year’s prom events.
Fundraising plays a tremendous role in prom planning. The fundraisers the junior prom committee has put on so far include selling pop/water at the class of 2023 graduation, a car wash, a lunch sale at Wahl, a corn boil, selling class t-shirts, indoor and football concessions, and hosting the Fall Frenzy at the Factory, and volunteering at Wahl’s first ever Trunk or Treat.
Last year’s prom was held at the McCormick center in Rock Falls with a post prom held at Sterling High School’s gymnasium and included food, games, props, and decorations paid for through the fundraising efforts.
Post prom is filled with activities and food, including Chicken George along with many snacks and drinks. In the gym, activities include bouncy houses, games like Jenga, tables where people can sit, and raffle tables set up in each front corner.
For about an hour of the night everyone goes to the auditorium and we get surprised with a performance of some kind. Last year, a magician performed and in previous years there was a hypnotist. Following the show, mock election senior winners are announced.
Student Emma Sinn said, “I am excited to see how our prom turns out because I know how hard our moms have been working every week to get ready for it. Our moms have been doing a lot to get prepared.”
Planning and fundraising for prom will continue all the way up until the event itself which will occur in May 2024.
