Every senior looks forward to one event at the end of the year: prom. It serves as a source of motivation to combat what many call “senioritis,” where many seniors start to slack off in their studies and classes, believing they don’t matter anymore since they’re about to graduate.

Eligibility for attending prom requires strict academic requirements, such as having a certain GPA — and seniors had a certain amount of absences that were permissible before they were ineligible. However, they were given a chance to still go to prom by being given the motivation they needed to keep up their grades. 

The theme for prom this year was a Mardi Gras-inspired Masquerade Ball, taking place at The Vineyards in Simi Valley. The venue followed this theme with purple and green decorations and free masks for all attendees. 

The venue had some mixed thoughts. “I liked how it was both indoor and outdoor where people could meet up and it gave me a lot of options to talk and dance,” said SAS senior Sam Lavagnino.

“The Banquet was really pretty, I feel like it really complimented the theme.” replied Melanie Carnes. Inside, it had a dance area and many beverages and food items. There were plenty of table, which allowed for room to rest and talk.

Prior to prom, many seniors had differing opinions on the theme. 

“I’m excited, but I was kind of let down that it was a masquerade. No one is bringing a mask, and no one is sticking to the theme,” said Ashly Gonzalez, a senior who was running for Prom Queen. 

“I’m so excited. I really love the masquerade theme. I think everyone is going to dress elegantly, and I’m excited to see how they decorate the Simi Valley banquet,” said senior Ava Hernandez.

For the event’s complimentary dinner, the main dish was chicken parmesan, with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese as the two sides. 

“I like mac and cheese, but I love chicken parm.”, said Lucy Alfaro, a senior excited about prom.

“I eat anything, so no biggie on the menu…better be good portions,” stated Allen Ung. 

At 7 p.m. on the night of April 20th, the event started off rather quickly. The line wasn’t long, and as soon as attendees were checked in they were able to vote for the Prom King and Queen. 

The food was served in a buffet style; and while the portions were small, students were able to come back for seconds. For the first hour or so, the dance crowd didn’t get much action. But as time went on and the DJ started playing some students’ favorite songs, it started to get more and more hectic. Prom King Candidate, Diego Enriquez, wore a batman mask, and was crowd surfing until it was shut-down by staff. 

The music selection for the dances was seen as mostly positive, with a diverse li

neup ranging from Miley Cyrus to Kanye West. 

“It was good. They had Fetty Wap… and I love Fetty Wap. So, the music was good.” remarked Alfaro.

Outside of the dance floor, the venue also offered activities like cornhole tossing and photo booths. White’s Studios also offered photos on the upper floor of the venue. And with ample seating options both inside and outside, many used the time to talk with friends. 

Towards the end of the event, the winners of Prom King and Queen were revealed on an outdoor stage for everyone to hear. Ashly Gonzalez ended up winning Prom Queen, while Diego Enriquez won Prom King. 

Overall, Prom had left many seniors satisfied with their high school experience and ready to move on to a new chapter in their lives.