Last year, students gathered for prom in school fieldhouses and parking lots, a reminder that the world was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, though, cases, positivity rates and hospitalizations are dwindling, and schools are getting back to planning larger events, prom being one of them. In April, schools will get back to some of the more grandiose proms they’ve had in 2019 and prior, where both juniors and seniors are welcome and outside guests are allowed. The local library is doing its part to make sure everyone can attend their prom.
The Johnson County Public Library will host its annual Project Prom this weekend, where students in need can pick up prom outfits at the Franklin library branch. The event, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, will include dresses, suits, shoes and accessories, all for free, library officials said.
Project Prom, which began in 2013, is responsible for almost 1,000 students receiving free prom outfits. Students can also enter to win a tuxedo rental from Sophia’s Bridal and Tux, an updo from Olivia at Peace, Love and Hair in Franklin or a total prom makeover including an updo, wax and airbrush makeup application from Tori Speedy at Luxe 349 Hair Studios in Greenwood, according to a Johnson County Public Library news release.
Last year, students took home 86 dresses, 24 pairs of shoes, seven suits and 85 accessories, according to the news release.
For Greenwood Community High School students, prom will take place at the Garment Factory in Franklin, but fundraising for the prom has been an uphill battle, said Ava Stein, a junior who serves as a representative on the school’s prom committee. The prom committee faces a steep fundraising challenge this year due to a shortage of fundraisers during the pandemic, she said.
“Because of COVID the last couple of years, prom committee has been unable to fundraise and has been stuck in a rut,” she said. “Now we need funds, but it was very hard to fundraise for our school due to restrictions from the administration. We’ve been trying to fundraise so everyone can attend junior/senior prom, and we don’t want money to be an issue for people to attend.”
While about 200 people attended last year’s prom, 400 are expected to be there this year, and the prom committee wants to ensure students pay no more than $70 for a ticket.
“$70 will cover the cost of everything we need,” Stein said. “More fundraisers means lower ticket prices for everyone right now, and we’re underpricing tickets. To not be in debt, we would have to raise the price.”
To avoid charging students more, Greenwood High School’s prom committee has raised money by selling t-shirts and getting sponsorships from local businesses, including Lazin Family Orthodontics, M and E Realty Group and Steward Tire and Auto. The committee has also planned a car wash for donations.
Businesses that sponsor the prom will get their names on a banner and the back of t-shirts each prom attendee will receive. Individual donors can write a check and drop them off in the high school’s main office, Stein said.
Center Grove schools is planning to have its prom at The Crane Bay Event Center in Indianapolis. Although about 900 students are expected to attend this year, compared to about 400 last year, the prom committee has had sufficient funds so far, and student tickets will go for $40, said Ashley Mitchell, president of Center Grove High School’s junior class, which organizes prom.
“We started planning in August, at the beginning of the school year,” Mitchell said. “Students are getting ready for their first large prom in three years. A lot of planning and work goes into it. The first thing we had to do was pick a theme. We had to go to a food tasting and picked all the food and drinks we would have at prom, and decided on a decoration for the entrance and the tables. We also had to pick crowns and sashes for prom court. We are going to do a song list for the DJ. We’re planning that soon.”
This year’s prom will be a Roaring ‘20s theme. Fundraising started when the current junior class were underclassmen, selling t-shirts and masks during the pandemic. Now, students will be able to enjoy their first traditional prom since 2019, she said.
“I think of it as a celebration because we’re finally able to have a bigger event and finally able to go back to normal. It’s kind of rewarding for a lot of students,” Mitchell said.
The Franklin Community High School prom will take place at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, and the prom committee’s goal is to lower student ticket prices to $60 from about $100, said Madelyn Tarvin, a senior and member of the prom committee.
“We’ve been getting some sponsorships from local businesses like we always do,” Tarvin said. “Last semester, we did a hot chocolate sale at the lighting in downtown Franklin … and last week, we did a dodgeball fundraiser where people could sign up to play for $6, and we sold pizza and drinks there, too.”
The prom’s theme will be Golden Gala, with a white and gold color scheme. The committee expects between 500 and 600 people will attend, she said.
“I’m really excited to have a normal prom,” Tarvin said. “It’s a really exciting part of a high school career, and I haven’t had a normal one yet.”
