Event changes tradition of prom after-parties

BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Middletown MIDDLETOWN - For many high school seniors, the prom used to be one last chance to party with friends.

In recent years, though, the type of that party has changed. Now, there is a way for seniors to extend their prom night festivities in a way that has nothing to do with renting a house at the Shore or going out with a fake ID on a late-night beer run.

For the past 13 years, Project Prom has been known as a substance-free prom night event designed to let kids continue enjoying one of the most memorable evenings of their young lives. In the past, both township high schools would collaborate and share the evening, but the schools now have their proms on separate nights.

Middletown High School South held its prom last month and the school's Project Prom coordinator, Sandy McKechnie, said the event went off without a hitch at the Woodbridge Community Center.

"We had 75 kids participate this year, which was up a bit from last year," McKechnie said. "I think each year more kids hear about how great the event is and they look forward to coming to it. It's a great alternative to spending money on a house at the Shore or just driving around and looking for something to do. "

McKechnie said South's version of the event upped the ante this year with door prizes for everyone and a special drawing for items such as iPods, autographed sports items and gift certificates to local businesses.

"Some of our items have values of hundreds of dollars, so I think that helped to draw kids to the event," McKechnie said.

The students at North will have their prom this Friday. Following the festivities, those who are going to Project Prom will also be headed to Woodbridge.

"The kids meet back at the school at about 1 a.m. and they take school buses to Woodbridge, and after it's all over, the buses take the kids back to the school," North coordinator Joan Minnuies said. "We try and make sure the kids have a great time from start to finish and we try to do what we can as a district to help out with it all."

Past events were held at the Atlantic Club in Wall, among other venues. But after a visit to its new home, Minnuies and McKechnie were both sure they had stumbled on something better than they had seen before.

"The Community Center was great because it had so many different things for kids to do, like ice skating, places to play sports, an indoor pool, a place to play video games," Minnuies said. "Once we saw it, we knew this was an ideal spot."

Getting the center for an evening probably costs a pretty penny, but the kids at the schools would never know it, because they don't have to reach into their pockets. Thanks to donations from local businesses and fundraisers throughout the school year, the cost is completely covered.

"Not having to come up with money to pay for Project Prom is huge," North Student Council President Ashley Rodriguez said. "Going away, even for a night after the prom, costs too much money. We spend all year raising money with events like powder puff football and a Valentine's Day dance, so I think it makes sense to go to Project Prom."

McKechnie feels the same way. But she does admit there is a challenge involved.

"Our event for the kids at South went from 12:15 to 5:30 a.m.," McKechnie said. "These kids are really just going on adrenaline, but with the adults it's different. We go through a lot of coffee and maybe I bump into a few things the next day, but it's all for the kids. The only drawback is not having more kids come out to the event, because I think everybody has a great time."

Rodriguez said that about 150 students at North have signed up for the event and by the time Friday rolls around, she anticipates about 200 will be in Woodbridge celebrating the end of high school.

"The kids that are there want to be a part of it," Minnuies said. "In the years that I have been a part of this, I have never received any negative feedback, and I think that this year will be no different."