Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Students show off rides, fashion at Coatesville Prom
Couples arrive at prom in classic cars, Army truck, Jeeps, fire truck and even a horse- drawn carriage
CALN » Another Coatesville Prom is in the books and as always it was a showstopper. Principal Michele Snyder said 413 students attended the annual event which is held at the school’s gymnasium. This years theme was ’ An Elegant Affair,’ and the students certainly looked the part.
What makes the Coatesville Prom unique is the parade that precedes it. Students arrive in all manner of conveyance from the Chester County Intermediate Unit parking lot and this year was no different. Couples on fire trucks, boats and floats. Therewere enough Jeeps to fill a mountainside and Corvettes for a car show.
Nick Thompson and his date Taylor Graham arrived in an 1971Deuce and a Half Army surplus truck, while Mikalia Heacock and Zack Hillard came on a romantic horse- drawn carriage.
“I’m a horseback rider and I want to arrive in style,” said Heacock.
Abby Taplar and her escort: Michael Stutzman, Mikayla Masteller and James Groce, arrived on the back of the East Brandywine Fire Company ladder truck.
“I called them and asked if they would do it,” said Taplar. “They said yes, I gave thema do-
nation.”
“I’m looking forward to the dance floor,” said Lala Parks, who attended in her uncle’s Lexus with her date Al- Qadar Irons.” I do love the tradition of the parade though.”
Justin Fisher originally wanted to come in a dump truck, but after brainstorming with his mother Megan who also graduated from Coatesville in the class of ‘ 97, they came up with the idea of a float. His date, Adrianna Reiter, sat in the captain’s chair of a fishing boat and reeled in her date, Justin.
“They call him ‘ Fish’ at school,” said his mother Megan. “The weird things are the fun things. When we ( her husband Andrew) went to the prom, we came on snowmobiles.”
The Fishers aren’t the only ones who remember their Coatesville Prom fondly. Bud and Christine Dunlap of Coatesville brought their daughter Riley and escort John Clifford in a borrowed boat. Both parents graduated from Coatesville in 1986. “It was a big to- do for the kids, a special way to end school.”
Fisher said when she attended, the parade often went way into the evening, sometimes not finishing before 10 p. m. While the parade is exciting, for many the entrance is the highlight.
Coatesville photographer Teresa Smith, a Coatesville grad, agreed that the parade was much changed from when she graduated in 1985.
“Couples used to get out and walk up to the entrance,” Smith said. “Everybody made a grand entrance, they had their spotlight,” she lamented.
The school now runs the event in a very orderly procession, as cars arrive, they form two lines and pull past the door. Couples who try to get out and steal the spotlight are not encouraged. Grandstands on the far side of the road allow family and friends to watch the arrivals. Comments fly on the great outfits and hairstyles. Each attendee is introduced as friends cheer. Occasionally a car will block the view and the crowd hoots and howls for them to move up.
One of the last couples cameo na trailer with an accompanying New Orleans jazz band and an umbrella carrying entourage By 7: 45p. m. the last guest had arrived.