On Friday, March 28th, the excitement in junior classes was palpable in the air. All day the class of ‘26 couldn’t wait for their early dismissals to rush to their hair and make-up appointments — ready to look their best for a night of dancing, great food, and elegance.  The junior class held their prom at the Marigold on March 28 from 5:30 – 10 p.m.

This year’s Junior Prom was a night to remember, filled with elegance, excitement, and unforgettable moments. Students arrive in style, stepping out of cars dressed to impress with their dates and friends by their side. The venue buzzed with radiant energy as students posed for pictures, shared laughs, and enjoyed a night out together. At about 5:30 pm juniors were invited to attend a mocktail hour before the festivities.  During this time multiple hors d’oeuvres were served like bruschetta, philly cheese steak eggrolls, and fried mac and cheese bites — all of which were delectable. Along with the appetizers, an array of drinks like the classic Piña Colada and Shirley Temple were served by The Marigold staff.  During this hour juniors took advantage of the leisure time and the venue’s picturesque patio to take beautiful photos in the Gazebo.  

Once the clock struck 6:30, juniors began making their way to the dance floor.  Some songs are forever hits for a prom dance-party, like “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO, “Baby” by Justin Bieber, “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus, and Keyshia Cole’s “Love”.  Not to worry though, more recent and trendy songs also had their place. Of course, it wouldn’t have been a party had the DJ not played “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Carnival” by Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign, and ¥$, along with Drake’s “NOKIA.”  Then came the traditional slow dance moment, where the DJ included a modern spin.  Juniors grabbed their special someones and waltzed to “Snooze” by SZA and Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s smash hit “Die With a Smile.”

Junior Addision Whitney shared, “I absolutely loved junior prom. It was really nice seeing everyone all dolled up. Everyone was on the floor and had great energy. So many prom pics were taken between my friends and I that I still don’t think I received all of them to this day. So excited for next year!”

Another highlight of the night was the impressive buffet-style dinner served across two rooms. The high quality spread featured options like beef tenderloin, penne vodka pasta, rice, roasted potatoes, vegetables, and fresh salad. The food was well-prepared and flavorful, with the steak and pasta standing out as favorites. The spacious setup allowed for easy access and relaxed dining, giving everyone a chance to enjoy a meal before hitting the dance floor. Overall, this year’s prom combined great food, good company, great music, and a lively atmosphere for a memorable junior year milestone.

It’s also important to give credit where it’s due as none of the festivities would have been possible without the help of the junior class advisors and class cabinet. Junior class cabinet President, Isabella He, detailed the prom planning process. She said, “We held a meeting for planning prom, but it was mostly the four of us and our advisors. Our advisors were already connected to the venue and we had to decide where the centerpieces, the table cloth, and the plate were set up for the tables.” She also said, “It was kinda difficult because sometimes two people would show up on the same form or people weren’t put on a table. So we had a couple of meetings to decide this placement of the tables as well as making the tables themselves with the students.” 

The advisors deserve a special shout out for the hours of work that they put behind this event’s flawless execution. Mrs. Blevins, the Junior class advisor, said, “Planning Junior Prom is basically like planning a really big wedding every year. We select the date at the end of the year for the following year’s event and put down a deposit to hold the date…Mrs. LaHart and I have a very detailed calendar that outlines our timeline for planning the event like when our deposits are due to the venue, when to send out all prom information to students and families, when we need to order our “save-the-date” cards so we can give them out when we sell tickets, when we need to have table assignments figured out, when to submit our final numbers, etc.” It’s safe to say that this event could not have been so successful without their immense planning and dedication.

Junior prom lived up to the excitement and left the class of ‘26 already looking forward to their senior prom. From stylish attire to the packed dance floor, the evening felt like a true celebration of youth, friendship, and fun.