Lake Hamilton sets seniors-only prom at Wolf Arena next month

PEARCY — Lake Hamilton High School will hold its senior prom in person next month at Wolf Arena, but will limit attendance to seniors only to reduce the number of participants, prom committee members said.

The event is set for 8 to 11 p.m. April 24 and prom tickets will be sold online. The committee normally hosts the event for juniors and seniors, but they decided to do a senior-only prom to limit it to 400 people due to COVID-19 concerns.

The event will also be limited only to students from Lake Hamilton, with no students from other schools allowed.

The prom committee had a fairly easy time of it when it came to planning, Rivers Nicholas, LHHS senior, said, noting, “We really got to do the fun part and not so much the stressful part.”

The prom theme this year is “Lights, Camera, Action” and it will be informal so students can wear what they want.

Photography will be available at the prom, and the school has decided to use Lifetouch Photography.

“They’ve been incredible to work with this year, following protocols (and) safety protocols with the photos,” said Donald Westerman, the school’s principal.

The school will serve food and drinks in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arkansas Department of Health food service guidelines.

“We’re trying to follow the National Restaurant Association. … We have to make sure that we are not doing anything that is not safe,” Maddie Gilleran, LHHS senior, said.

She said this is Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America’s first year to sponsor prom.

“It’s definitely a big production; we normally just did the food. But this year, we’re doing the decorations and everything,” Gilleran said.

Brian Bridges, the district’s communications coordinator, said they waited until they had the all-clear from Gov. Asa Hutchinson to hold a prom and a group gathering such as a graduation.

“The governor announced earlier this month that districts were now allowed to post those traditional events that are typically hosted,” he said.

In the past, Project Prom was put on by community members, but will not be held this year, Westerman said, noting they didn’t see “a way that we could put a project plan together that would be able to adhere to those social distancing guidelines.”

“I think we’re very grateful that we’re getting to have this event even though we are having to do it safely. It’s been a really tough year, but (we’re) getting to put a spotlight on us,” Gilleran said.

“We’re showcasing everything we’ve done over these past few years,” she said.