Bridget Veltri
arts@mustangdaily.net
This Sunday, seniors and students will have a chance to experience prom another time around at the third annual Senior Prom.
But unlike your average high school prom this one raises money for a good cause; all of the proceeds from Senior Prom go to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“We are trying to reach out to the community,” business administration junior and Sigma Kappa sorority’s vice president of philanthropy Heather Raymond said. “It’s for anyone who wants to re-live their prom and help raise awareness.”
In previous years, the prom was founded and organized by agriculture business senior Brandon Styles.
“It was kind of a lot work doing it by myself; I have always done a lot of community service work,” he said. “I have always volunteered with senior citizens and Alzheimer’s runs in my family.”
This year Styles teamed up with the women of the Sigma Kappa Sorority to put on the event. He says he hopes that the sorority will continue the event in future years since he is graduating in spring.
Sigma Kappa seemed like the logical choice, he said, since they already have a connection with the San Luis Obispo office of the nationwide organization.
“I wanted to do something that could be institutionalized at Cal Poly after I leave, and their philanthropy is Alzheimer’s Association,” Styles said. “This is kind of the marriage I wanted to make with them (Sigma Kappa), so they could carry this on in years to come.”
According to Raymond, the sorority is likely to continue to plan the event in the future.
“We have never put on an event like this before and it has been really fun,” she said. “We have had a ‘prom planning’ committee that has been working on the event since January and a lot of them are freshmen.”
Styles also noted that the prom is an opportunity for both students and seniors to “bridge a generational gap” and get to know each other in the midst of a large age difference.
“It is a place where seniors and students can get together, dance and have a type of social interaction that they wouldn’t normally have,” he said. “The seniors that I have worked with have always really enjoyed that kind of company because it is an interaction that they aren’t used to in their everyday.”
No one will be spiking the punch at this prom. Instead, complementary appetizers, beverages, including wine and champagne will be available to all guests.
Keeping with its philanthropic theme, the event will also feature a silent and live auction featuring items from businesses all over the county. The planning committee hopes that they will be able to raise as much money for seniors as in year’s past.
“It’s all about the seniors,” Styles said. “Last year’s auction raised roughly $9,000 and roughly 80 businesses donated.”
Although most proms have a DJ, this one will feature live music from band Thigh High Thumpers. A dance teacher will even be on hand to help the out of practice crowd members brush up on their moves.
“The seniors get dressed up to the nines and get so excited,” Styles said. “It’s a crack up because they are so in to it, they are going to prom.”
And no prom would be complete without a king and queen.
“We have a prom queen and king,” Styles said. “It is usually the oldest attending couple that wins.”
This year’s event is being held at the Manse on Marsh from 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for seniors and students and are available at the door and in advance at the student community services office on campus.