Post-prom parties offer teens alternative

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 11, 2002 by Ann Marie Bush Capital-Journal

W R H S / T O P E K A W E S T

Historic Ward-Meade Park to have pre-prom dinners

By Ann Marie Bush

The Capital-Journal

Thanks to the hard work of parents, school staff and volunteers, area teens will once again have something safe to do after prom.

Topeka West High School 2002 post-prom party will take place 11:30 p.m. April 27 to 4 a.m. April 28 at the Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center and Mall, 2114 S.W. Chelsea Drive.

The theme for this year's party is "La Fiesta," said Sherlyn Starkey, publicity chair for the event.

This is the 15th post-prom party for Topeka West.

Tickets for the event cost $3 a piece or $5 for two. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets won't be available at the door.

This year's party will include games, food, a mechanical bull, a card reader and music. There also will be prizes, including gift certificates, cash, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun packages, a DVD player, television and a microwave.

It will kick off after the junior and senior prom. The theme for the Topeka West prom is "From Dusk 'til Dawn," said John Deters, junior class sponsor.

The 2002 prom will take place on April 27 at Heritage Hall at the Kansas Expocentre. Tickets are $25 per couple. Junior and senior males will receive a mug and females will receive a glass as souvenirs.

Washburn Rural High School will celebrate their prom the same weekend.

WRHS' prom theme is "Take My Breath Away." It will take place on April 27 at the Ramada Inn Downtown. Tickets are $8. Colors include lavender, pearl and silver with blue accents. There will be videos made of the dance, too.

The post-prom party will take place April 28 from 12:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. at WRHS. The theme for this year's party is "And the Beat Goes On!"

Games and activities include laser tag, a Velcro wall, a 28-foot mountain and a casino. Dr. Brenda Dietrich, superintendent at Unified School District 437, will be running a karaoke machine, too.

Prizes include a DVD player, refrigerator, cash, gift certificates and a television.

This is the first year that students will be charged for the event. Advanced ticket prices are $2 per person or $3 at the door.

"We are one of the last high schools to charge for post-prom," said Pam Brandsted, post-prom co-chair for WRHS.

Cathy Mosimann, the other co-chair for the event, said the economy played an important role in the decision to charge for post-prom activities.

"There was a concern because the economy might be a little bit tough and tight," Mosimann said about the decision. "We work on a pretty large budget. We discussed it as a committee, and we looked at it as a means of revenue."

Post-prom activities have been popular at WRHS, Mosimann said. Every year, about 700 students take part in them. There also are more than 120 volunteers for them.

Brandsted said she hopes the minimal cost for this year's event won't deter students from coming.

Once a student enters either school's post-prom party, he or she isn't allowed to return because of safety concerns. Security measures --- including metal detectors at WRHS --- are being taken for the events.

WRHS' post-prom party is open for public viewing from 7 to 9 p.m. April 27.

Post-prom activities give students an opportunity to do something safe, Brandsted said.

"A substance-free night is our goal," she said.

Historic Ward-Meade Park, 124 N.W. Fillmore, is offering students something to do before prom, too.

This is the first year that the park will offer a pre-prom dinner.

For $27.50 per plate, a student can choose from roasted beef tenderloin with three-mushroom sauce or chicken cordon bleu. Also on the menu is baby greens garden salad with Gorgonzola cream dressing, twice-baked potato, green bean almondine, herbed dinner rolls and New York style cheesecake with bittersweet chocolate sauce.

"Basically, we're doing this like we do our Victorian dinners," said Beverly Gunderman, program development manager for the park.

The dinner will be served at tables for eight in the park's mansion. Reservations are needed at least two weeks in advance of the prom date, Gunderman said.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and serving begins at 6:30 p.m.

The idea for the dinner came about because students often have to go out to eat before prom.

"The kids have to stand in line --- sometimes they have to wait. Kids are always looking for a new and unusual place to go to dinner," Gunderman said. "I can envision kids coming (here) a little bit earlier and parents taking pictures."

For more information or to make reservations, call 368-3838 or e- mail bbarnes@topeka.org.

"A substance-free night is our goal."

PAM BRANDSTED

post-prom co-chair for WRHS