The end of Spring break brings new events to look forward to for Liberty High School students, including Prom. Prom is considered one of the highlighted events of every junior and senior year of high school. From dressing to impress to having the best playlist for the DJ, students look forward to spending the evening dancing and spending time with friends. This year’s prom for Liberty High School was held at Germanna Community College and this year’s theme was “A Night in Greece: Mama Mia!”. As the evening sun set, students began to arrive, excited for the night to begin. “I think the part of prom I was looking forward to the most was seeing everyone dressed up and not in school clothes,” said senior, Ava-Sol Figueroa. 

When students entered the venue, the theme “A Night in Greece” transformed the place into a Grecian setting, complete with twinkling lights and Grecian decor. The decorations were created by Liberty’s Agriculture Department and included beautiful Santorini-inspired windowscapes and backdrops. Junior class SCA students and sponsors spent the better part of Friday creating an atmosphere of magic and glamour for all to enjoy. Students and staff were dressed to impress for the night. While many students’ outfits stood out, several seniors stated that one person in particular shined throughout the night. “There were so many pretty dresses but the one that stood out to me the most was senior, Kaylen Ulloa’s dress. It was light purple and she looked so beautiful! When the lights hit her dress, she just glowed!”, gushed seniors, Geysel Mendoza Lopez and Nathatly Somoza Lemus.

While the night unfolded, the dance floor came alive with energy as students danced the night away to the beats of the DJ from King Entertainment and Event Productions. From timeless classics like YMCA to modern hits, the music sets the mood for a night of celebration. “The music was okay, I do wish that the DJ would’ve played more music so that people would be more into dancing. When he played YMCA or the Cupid Shuffle, everyone was on the dance floor,” stated senior, Mendoza Lopez. 

In between dance breaks, students indulged in a variety of refreshments, keeping their energy levels high throughout the evening. Snacks provided were bagged chips, cookies, candies, fruits, veggies, cheese, crackers, water, and a variety of sodas. There was something to satisfy every craving. The opportunity to take photos to celebrate the evening was provided by Mr. and Mrs. Arneson and their photo booth services. Each year the Arnesons create a unique layout and design based on the theme of prom that allows students to preserve their favorite memories and moments of the night.

One of the highlights of the evening is the moment when Prom Royalty is announced. This year’s prom court included seniors Bryar Laine, Reed Dodson, and Cassidee Acors. The junior prom court consisted of Christina Dovell, Madison Goldzein, Judith Calderon, and Nolan Hensley. As the crowd waited for the announcement of Prom Royalty, the glittering lights were in tune with the electricity of anticipation felt by all. Cheers erupted as seniors, Janet Adu Gyamfi and Bonnie Quansah were announced the 2024 Prom Royalty! “I was kind of surprised when Mr. Cox said my name but it seriously made my night ten times better. I’m so thankful to everyone who voted for me!” exclaimed senior, Bonnie Quansah. Both Quansah and Adu Gyamfi were shocked to hear their name called.

“Prom Royalty was so surreal to me. I was in shock when my name was called. Being crowned as prom queen was the highlight of my night. I wasn’t even going to prom until I was nominated for prom court. I would have regretted it if I had taken my name off the list. P.S. That crown was heavy!” gushed senior, Janet Adu Gyamfi.

As the night came to an end, many students clung to their final moments of prom. Prom is often seen as a rite of passage for upperclassmen students, especially seniors. It’s a timeless event that marks that their final year of high school is slowly coming to an end. “Prom was kind of unreal because it was the last time I got to experience an event like this in high school surrounded by people that I’ve known for four years,” said senior, Deigo Blanco. “It was a lot of fun but I kept thinking to myself, wow…this is it.”