Prom

Prom 2023:

An Enchanted Fairytale

By: Danielle Quesenberry

As the school year comes to an end, high schools across the country host one of their most popular events, the junior and senior prom. The 2023 Christiansburg High School prom was held on Saturday, April 29, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., in the lower commons. The theme this year was an enchanted fairytale. The Prom Planning Committee, led by Mrs. Bailey, worked hard to decorate the lower commons in string lights and flowers, setting a majestic scene for students to dance the night away. The decorations created a truly “enchanted” atmosphere for this memorable event.

Students began arriving around 7:45, as they gathered in the front of the school waiting for the doors to open. The atmosphere was one of excitement and eagerness as juniors and seniors looked forward to one of the last nights they would get to enjoy with their friends, with graduation only a couple weeks away. The dresses and tuxes were amazingly colorful, sparkling, and elegant, and a wonderful variety of outfits were visible throughout the night.  One student decided to make a special arrival, as he drove up to the school on his tractor. 

The DJ played all the latest hits from different genres of music, including rap, pop and country. He took requests throughout the night, which kept many students out on the dance floor for most of the evening. Students were also excited about the food table. Veggie trays, fruit, chicken nuggets, desserts, and various beverages were provided. Students were provided with a photo area, covered with vines and lights, to capture memories. Adalyn Williams, a CHS senior, shared, “I liked the dancing and the photo booth. I danced all night.”  Students got to dance and talk to their friends and teachers, taking the stress off of the end of the year. Williams continued, “Prom was a great opportunity to make a lot of good memories.” Josh Starr, another CHS senior, agreed, claiming his favorite part of the prom was “hanging out with friends.”

 During the middle of the dance, Prom King and Queen were announced. Thaxton Henley and Cadence Spaulding took the crown. When Spaulding asked how she felt about being named Prom Queen, she replied, “I was very honored and glad I had the opportunity to be chosen by my classmates.” Spaulding and Henley celebrated their honor by sharing a dance in the middle of the dance floor. Shortly after, the rest of the students joined in to celebrate their king and queen.

After the dance, many students headed over to the NRV Superbowl for after prom. The faculty, staff, and PTA of CHS put this amazing event together. The doors opened at 11 p.m. and many students changed from their elegant prom gowns and fancy suits and tuxedos to jeans, shorts, and t-shirts. Free bowling and laser tag were offered, and the students had a great time hanging out with friends and participating in the activities. Various video games were also available for an extra charge. Each student was given a total of five raffle tickets that gave students a chance to win some nice prizes donated from area businesses, from Target gift cards, to a new TV, to concert tickets. Many students played multiple rounds of bowling and laser tag and waited to see if their name was drawn for any prizes. Students had to stay after prom to receive their prizes. There was also lots of food at the after prom party, from pizza to chips and sweet treats. Kendall Slone, a CHS senior, commented on her experience at after prom, “I really enjoyed after prom. I liked bowling; it was a lot of fun.” Williams also commented, “I also liked after prom. Laser tag was fun. Students had a responsible and fun night.”

Prom night turned out to be a truly “enchanted” evening for the many students that attended. The juniors and seniors of CHS and their dates will have many special memories of this event to look back on.