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A six-year absence of any kind of planned dance or entertainment following prom for T.R. Miller High School students came to an end Saturday night.
A group of four women, all mothers of current TRM students, put their heads and hands together to come up with a plan to keep the students from taking to the roads following the annual prom event.
“The school district hasn’t sponsored a dance in at least six years,” Sarju Patel said. “We wanted to have something that the kids could do after lead out that would keep them in the city.”
Planning that kind of event would take money and lots of time, Patel said.
“We have been having fund raisers to get the money for putting on the dance for the kids,” Patel said. “We’ve had car washes, sold soup dinners and other things to make this happen. We’ve had some wonderful businesses to help out as well.”
The event went off without a hitch Saturday night as juniors, seniors and their dates gathered at The Hour Glass to enjoy dancing and some fun games, Patel said.
“Everyone who came stayed well into the night,” Patel said. “Some of the seniors left us around 11 p.m., but we had about 50 kids stay until the end at midnight. Then most of those went on to the midnight breakfast hosted at First Baptist Church.”
The quartet of working moms made sure that the students enjoyed themselves and are even extending themselves for planning the next prom dance.
“We have a whole binder full of notes,” Patel said. “We will certainly be able to help out the group that comes next year. We want to make sure that our senior children get to have the same kind of fun and tradition that this year’s group enjoyed.”
The planners for the event expressed thanks to the public for contributing through fundraisers to make the event possible.
“We are thankful for the support of our community,” Patel said. “Without the support through our fundraisers, this couldn’t have happened. We have some wonderful businesses in town that have made this an event the kids will remember forever.”
The evening also included the naming of the Prom King and Queen. Jeffrey Spears was named King with Elora Waters crowned as Queen.
Other contests and awards were also a part of the evening making the memories special for those attending.
The Best Dancer award went to Caroline Williamson. A four-way tie for Most Competitive went to Cole Kelley, Sam Kelley, Bracken Pettis and Landan Barrentine.
The winner of the Best Look award went to Olivia Beasley.