Prom is set for Saturday, Apr. 26, and this year’s theme, “A Night in Athens,” will bring ancient Greece to life at the J.W. Marriott from 8 p.m. to midnight.
According to English teacher and junior class sponsor Daniel Farias, the planning process began as early as last fall, with final decisions being made in January.
“We usually meet in the fall semester to sort of come up with the to-do list… and then we come together in earnest in January to decide on the theme, design the t-shirt, the poster, the publicity, the information,” Farias said.
Junior class officers are responsible for leading most of the event’s creative direction. That includes designing tickets, creating promotional posters, and developing Spirit Week themes.
“I made the poster [and] the ticket,” junior class officer Rayden Mercado said. “As a team… we also set out some Spirit Week themes that we’re currently getting ready to announce for the week before prom.”
While the theme is meant to capture a magical Grecian night, the aesthetic inspiration came from the students themselves.
“We liked the aesthetic of it,” junior class officer Megha Gudur said. “Leafy green, fairy lights, the white, the cream, the beige… We’re going for columns, we’re going for like the authentic kind of Greek Athens.”
Decor plans include gold and green centerpieces, soft lighting, and table runners to tie the look together. But behind the decor is a logistical lift including booking the venue, managing communication, and selling tickets all fall under Farias’s role.
“I work with Mr. Lander to decide on a date that works for our campus… [and] I’m in charge of selling the tickets… all through the month of April,” he said.
According to Mercado, attendees should expect a smooth check-in process, a fun atmosphere, and “a lot of fun.” Gudur added that a DJ and student-curated playlist will be part of the evening.
“They can expect kind of a chill, pretty vibe,” Gudur said.
Budget constraints also shaped this year’s planning. Gudur explained that lower attendance at last year’s prom meant fewer ticket sales, forcing this year’s team to raise more funds independently.
“Last year we had a lot of people not show up,” Gudur said. “So this year we had to spend a lot more through fundraising. Like we had a Whataburger night… to make it more personalized with the theme.”
While the team acknowledges that prom is just one night, they’re hopeful their hard work pays off.
“We hope that people come,” Gudur said. “We’ve spent a lot of time planning it… and we hope that it’ll be just as good as last year’s, if not even better.”
