The After-Prom Committee consisting of numerous parent volunteers, recently helped transform Nordonia High School into “A Knight Out West” for the 295 graduating senior students who attended.
As student attendees entered the main hallway, they were greeted with a Route 66 sign, along with a diner nearby that served root beer floats and ice cream sundaes. Further down Route 66, The Grand Canyon and ghost town transformed the cafeteria into a western scene. A county jail was set up to capture any convicts, allowing for selfie photographic opportunities. A general store was set up with candy, and stage coaches served pizza, chicken tenders, and pulled chicken/pork sandwiches. A watering hole served drinks, while a taco spot offered loaded nachos.
The Vegas area had slot machines and card tables. Each person received 500 in coins to play with. They could turn in their winnings for raffle tickets to win a $200 Visa Gift Card.
Yellowstone National Park was set up in the gymnasium, with a waterfall, sitting areas, and saloon that served iced coffee. In the large gym: line dancing, jousting, mechanical bull, live music by acoustic guitar player- Brady McBride, bungee run, and a high strike. In the small gym there was air hockey, basketball game, foosball table, corn hole and other outdoor games. Each of the participants that stayed till the end received a Hamilton Beach personal smoothie blender as a gift.
The After-Prom Committee has been busy for months with various fundraising events leading up to the main prom event. Several area businesses contributed to the cause with generous donations.
*The committee and attendees would like to thank the following businesses for their contributions:
Russo’s Pizza, Gionino’s Pizzeria, Teresa’s Pizza, Raising Canes, Old Carolina BBQ, San Diego Tacos: all supplied them with food for the event and gave generous discounts and donations of food. Raising Canes also supplied them with lemonade, iced tea, plates, napkins, and cups.
Old Carolina BBQ 2- $25 gift cards
BA Sweeties also donated a $25 gift card
Throughout the past year of event planning and fundraising efforts, many businesses also contributed with their generous support:
- Kimpton Printing donating the printing of fundraiser tickets, signs, posters, and programs for Prom Fair, as well as the tickets for the Burger Bash Raffle.
- Ohio State Waterproofing, USA Waterproofing, and Ohio Sports Chiropractic were corporate sponsors for the Burger Bash.
- Patti Pisoni: Line Dancing Teacher donated her time to be at the event to teach the kids. Patti said, “I love teaching others the joy of line dancing.”
A Special Thanks Goes to The After Prom Parent Committee:
Shannon Larsen, Lead and Prom Fair
Christie Rusk, Treasurer and
Jen Stalzer, Decorations Lead
Tammy Guy- WinterFest Chair and Food Chair
Nicole Pinizzotto- Texas Holdem
Laurie Heiser- Prom Fair Script Writers
Heather Hamilton-Prom Fair Script Writers
Lynn Vison- Burger Bash Chair
Lisa Canupp- Burger Bash
Amy Zender- Burger Bash
Jen Sweeney- Burger Bash
Anita Wujnovich- Route 66 Decorations
Allison Graceffo- Las Vegas Decorations
Darla Stobbe- Yellowstone Decorations
Cheryl and Rob Lewis- Yellowstone
Stacy Hovancsek- Yellowstone
Lou Maralli- Yellowstone
Kathy and Brian Kraus- Yellowstone
*Countless other parent volunteers that helped throughout the whole year to raise funds, volunteered to run events, set up and tear down each of our events.
Shannon Larsen recalls, “The most profound thing I recall from the event was the look on the students’ faces as they walked around the school, reacting to how the high school was transformed into ‘A Knight Out West’- our theme. It was fun watching them run around to get all their selfies for the scavenger hunt. Lots of smiles, laughter and a good time was had by all.”
Our Theme this year is “A Knight Out West”.
The entrance was Route 66, cafeteria area was the Grand Canyon and a ghost town which had a jail, bank, general store, stage coaches for food, a watering hole and cantina.
