At Carmel, the goal of prom is to provide a break for students to join together and have fun, spending time with their peers and understanding how far they have come. The upperclassmen have deserved the short break as they have worked hard and come together to succeed this year and to prepare for the next steps of their lives.

The Preparation

The junior prom committee spent many hours preparing and creating this year’s masquerade prom. The juniors worked hard to put together everything to make prom a beautiful sanctuary for the upperclassmen to enjoy before the end of the year.  They invested their time into countless spreadsheets and Pinterest boards, aiming to put together the perfect venue. On the day of the prom, juniors and seniors worked together to put up their masquerade prom at the Magnolia Room. Meredith Mente helped the students, giving them a voice of leadership. She delegated the jobs and helped the students understand and work out their new, complicated ideas!

This year’s student government was able to bring the student body many exciting features surrounding prom this year. This was especially seen through the dedication of promoting prom by placing posters in the halls, advertising on the office TV and getting students excited for the special evening. Student Government was able to work diligently and get custom-designed prom pants for the entire student body. Not only that, but they also brought in a gelato truck for the prom. They gave everyone tickets to get a free gelato, adding to the festivities of prom. 

The Dance

The night entails far more than just the dance. Pre-dance preparation ranges far and wide from hair and makeup appointments, picking up corsages, making flower bouquets, confirming dinner reservations and meeting to get the perfect pictures! Before attending the prom, many grouped to enjoy dinner at various restaurants around Charlotte and Fort Mill. The most visited restaurants were Restoration Hardware, The Pump House, Osteria LuCa and some even hosted dinner at their homes! Picture locations ranged from Country Clubs to people’s backyards! Each photo taken captured the special evening and the memories made that night!

Students were greeted at the door by the administration and welcomed into the masquerade ball. Masks were provided at the door and many wore them throughout the night. The photo booth was lined with individuals waiting to grab masquerade props and take pictures with their dates and teacher chaperones! Each student was given a ticket to receive either Italian ice or gelato from the truck parked in the back of the venue. Students were able to enjoy the sweet treat and watch “Phantom of the Opera.” On the other porch side, sophomore Eli Chen led the Orchestra and provided guests with elegant music. Alumni, Monise van Ginkel stood alongside the open space beside the musicians to teach students how to ballroom dance. Former teacher, Christina Gross, provided the refreshments and high school moms worked hard refilling the tables. At the end of the evening, Donovan Law crowned Owen Ackers and Anna Blair Huie as Prom King and Queen. The crowd celebrated with the two and danced the rest of the night away!

The Class of 2024 ended their senior year with their final prom. Many now look forward to walking across the stage, receiving their diplomas, and tossing their caps into the air on May 24th.