By Madison Mack
As the sun sets and the full moon rises, the night is young for Ocean City High School students. Dresses and tuxedos are traded for messy-buns and t-shirts as juniors and seniors get ready for a night of drug and alcohol-free fun hosted by the After Prom committee. This group of caring adults spend all year planning this amazing night to give students a safe and fun all-nighter, and have been doing so for 25 years.
The committee is very intentional to create games for everyone. Several types of inflatables had kids jumping, diving, dodging, and bouncing around. Staying active is key to lasting through the long night. There were also several opportunities to work together as a team in laser tag and the escape room.
Some games required more skill and finesse. Brain challenges and careful hands translated into tickets for door prizes and keys to the treasure chest which unlocked winnings such as gift cards, movie tickets, and restaurant certificates. A special thank you to all our local donors who contributed food, prizes and resources. Expect to see lots of young faces in your stores as kids eagerly redeem their winnings.
For students who were looking for a more relaxing and less competitive evening, some chose to continue the dance in the elegantly decorated cafeteria. There were also those brave enough to share a song in front of peers who happily enjoyed some peace amongst chaos. Many students continued to transform their appearance with glitter and face-paint, while others let an artist transform them onto paper with cute caricatures.
At the end of the night, 500 kids staggered into the gym to hear the prizes announced. With their hands full and faces smiling, kids went home with tech, kayaks, fishing rods, gift certificates, dorm items, cash, and even Disney tickets!
Once again the Ocean City After Prom committee hosted an incredible night for students in a safe, drug and alcohol free environment. Thank you to those individuals who work so hard and are dedicated to protecting the youth of our community. Our students are blessed by all you do.
