Second time’s the charm
May 6, 2008
By: Erin Lowe <elowe@hilite.org>
It’s prom season again which means it’s time to make hair appointments and find a date. But, like senior Kara Palmer, think people sometimes go too far.
“People sometimes make it get out of hand when they go all out,” she said. If they keep it simple it’s okay. I think it’s become a big deal. The biggest deal isn’t even the dance itself.”
Palmer has more experience than others with proms since last year as a junior she went to two. Her first prom was at Zionsville with her boyfriend Peter and then she went to this school’s prom. She plans to attend this year’s prom here.
“To make the prom’s different we went to different places and had completely different plans for each,” Palmer said.
Palmer said that each prom is different, but she said that she enjoyed Zionsville’s prom more than the one held by this school “For Zionsville’s we went to the Eagle’s Nest downtown for dinner. The prom was at the Marriott Hotel downtown and there was even an after party at the school. They had decorated the school and it was awesome,” Palmer said.
This school’s prom is coming up on Saturday at The Fountains. It lasts from 8 p.m. to midnight. Some other proms on Saturday are Hamilton Heights and Fishers.
To prepare for her prom here, Palmer went with the norm and had her hair done and nails done, but to change things up she used a different method when preparing for Zionsville’s prom.
“I did my own hair and nails when I went to Zionsville. I didn’t want to spend so much money since I was going to two proms,” Palmer said.
This year for prom, planning will be about the same. Many people have already made appointments for hair and nails, and some have already made dinner reservations.
“I think planning ahead is good and helps people to feel less stressed about anything,” Palmer said.
For people who have never been to prom before, the event can be quite exciting.
“The most exciting part of prom for me was probably the day of, just getting ready with my friends. When Peter and I first saw each other was pretty exciting too,” Palmer said.
One of the biggest parts of prom for a girl is getting the dress. Palmer can empathize with the girls who want to look like a princess for a night but doesn’t think they should go overboard.
“I wore two different dresses. For Zionsville I wore a dress that I bought for Homecoming but didn’t end up wearing and for Carmel I wore a new dress that I had just gotten. The Zionsville dress was bright green with a criss-cross in the back and beading down the front with a train in the back. The Carmel dress was hot pink and strapless with a skirt that swirled out at the bottom. I loved both of them,” Palmer said.
As for ideas for an after party Palmer said there are better ways to celebrate than having a party or going to a party right after the dance ends.
“I think it’s fun to do something the next day. This year I’m actually going to King’s Island with my friends the next day. I think it’s better to do something fun, relaxing and simple the next day rather than have a really late night,” Palmer said.
As some people may not know the prom theme this year is Arabian Nights. Palmer said that the first thing that comes to mind when approached with this theme may be Aladdin, and planning an outfit to go along with this theme could be hard. “I don’t really go with themes, I just enjoy myself and wear what I like.”
When asked if she had any advice for first time prom goers Palmer said, “Enjoy every minute of it because you won’t ever get to do it again. Also, don’t get so caught up in planning it.”
A Little Something Extra
May 6, 2008
By: Beverly Jenkins <bjenkins@hilite.org>
It can be a night to remember, and people like junior Mikayla Mandell hope that this year’s prom will be spectacular. “I want to see the whole room lit up and decorated, and I want to see a fun atmosphere,” Mandell said. “Last year’s theme was really great with flowers and the huge fountain and the grand entrance. It will be hard to top last year’s (prom).”
The prom committee is made up of about 15 juniors, and they are hard at work to make Mandell’s and the rest of the school’s hopes and expectations come true. The committee is using profits from the magazine fund-raiser the Class of 2008 raised during their freshman year. This year’s theme is Arabian Nights, and, according to Maureen Borto, sponsor of the prom committee and AP Block and American Literature teacher, a theme is extremely imporant.
“A theme really sets the stage for a dance,” Borto said. “A theme makes sure that every year is different and gives a distinctive feeling to prom. Without a theme, it’s just random. Having a theme gives it a little something extra.”
Elizabeth “Izzy” Landis, member of the prom committee and junior, also thinks that having a theme is an essential to prom. “(A theme) doesn’t really ever make or break a prom,” she said, “but it adds a unique aspect to (the dance). Otherwise, it’d be like Homecoming with school colors (for decorations), and that’s not what prom is about.”
As far as students who are planing to attend prom are concerned, Borto said that they don’t need to do anything differently to prepare for an Arabian night.
“There will be a song that the king and queen will dance to and decorations that go with the theme, but otherwise, it’s still same old prom,” she said. Last year’s prom king and queen song was Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” but according to Borto, there wasn’t another similar sounding song played again.
Landis said that the committee has played around with a lot of ideas for this year’s theme, including a Las Vegas theme and a masquerade theme. The theme is one of the first things decided on, since it determines most, if not all, of aesthetic aspects, such as decorations, tickets, prom court, and some songs that will be played at the dance.
“(The committee) decides on the theme, decorations, party favors, and we sell tickets too,” Landis said. “We decided on (Arabina Nights) during a brainstorming session. We were looking through magazines and catalogs that had decorations we could order from, and we based possible themes around what kind of decorations we could get and how far we could take (the theme).”
The committee is still discussing which decorations will go where and what songs will be played.
Although the committee is still putting the finishing touches on the event, Mandell said that the one thing she would have changed would be to anounce or post what the theme was to the school, since not a lot of people knew what this year’s theme was.
“I think (the Arabian Nights theme) is really great, and it’s one of the more distinctive themes that we’ve had,” she said, “but I feel like (the theme) should have been better stated.”
According to Landis, the committee does not publically announce or advertise the theme to the school, not because it is supposed to be a surprise, but because the theme is for the design of the dance floor, decorations and a few song choices; the theme should not influence in any way students attending should prepare for prom. She said that students should be more concerned with having a good time, not changing their dresses and suits in order to match the theme. “Besides,” Landis said, “eventually (the theme) gets around to most everyone.”
Because so many students were not aware of what this year’s theme was, Borto said that it is sometimes hard to tell just how much students acknowledge or even care about the aesthetic part of prom.
“Kids will hear (about the theme) and create their own opinions, but I imagine that most of the kids will go just to have a good time and hope that (the dance floor) looks nice.”
As for Landis, she said that the prom will be special no matter the theme. “I’m excited for prom,” she said, “and hopefully it will turn out the way we want it to, and we will have done a good job.”
“We have had a lot of very different themes,” Borto said. “In the past, there have been themes such as Twilight in Central Park, Jazz Quartet, and Red Carpet.”
She said that each prom theme gives an elegant, but distinctly different, feeling to prom. “When you compare those themes to something like Mardi Gras, you see why a theme is necessary.”
Students start summer plans early
May 1, 2008
By: Lexi Muir <lmuir@hilite.org>
Senior Anna Wendt has searched throughout Carmel for a job at any location that might be hiring. Filling out a number of applications, Wendt said she hopes to beat the college students who will be coming home for summer and taking jobs.
“The college students will be coming home soon and applying for jobs, so I have to beat them to it,” Wendt said. “I want to get the best job for me. I’m looking for something that is flexible with hours and pays better than my last job.”
Wendt is not alone in her search for a summer job and her struggle to make a summer plan. Many students have found themselves planning for summer much earlier now than they have in the past. According to counselor Becky Stuelpe, summer seems to have “gone away” because people are just busier now. Students today are forced to plan their summer earlier because of their sports, jobs, summer school and everything else that happens throughout the summer.
“Students today don’t get summer like it used to be,” Stuelpe said. “They are just doing more. If (students) wait until summer (to plan), it will be over before they know it. If (they) want to take advantage of their summer break, they need to start planning early.”
Along with searching for a job, Wendt said that she also is planning for a vacation to North Carolina. She plans to go with friends some time in the summer, and she has been planning and saving money for her vacation since August when she found out that she could in fact go.
“(My friends and I) usually go for one week in the summer, depending on when we get the beach house,” Wendt said. “We will probably start to really plan after spring break, buying plane tickets and all that, but I have been saving money and planning for it all year.”
According to Cnn.com, airline tickets should be bought as early as possible because the cheapest fares are snatched up first. They say that most seats go on sale 11 months in advance, and getting a ticket last-minute will most likely be either impossible or extremely expensive.
When interviewing and applying for jobs, Wendt said that she will need to keep her vacation into consideration and make sure the job is flexible enough to allow her to leave for a week.
Some students, however, like junior Kayla Vaughn, have a different view of how to spend their summer. Vaughn said she has no time for a job, let alone a summer vacation. She has no need to plan for her summer because she already has a pretty good idea of what it will entail: softball, softball and more softball.
“I have tournaments every weekend and practice is usually once or twice a week,” Vaughn said. “I don’t really get to hang out with my friends that much because I am always at softball, especially on the weekends.”
When it comes to planning for summer, Vaughn said that the most important thing is that she pays attention to her softball schedule.
“I don’t ever go on vacations because there is no way I can miss a softball tournament,” Vaughn said. “When it comes to planning for stuff, it’s basically just hanging out with friends, going to lunch or hanging by the pool. I have to check my softball schedule every time I plan something to make sure it will not be getting in the way of practice or a tournament.”
According to Indy.org, the most popular activities to do in the summer in Indiana are Indianapolis Indians minor league baseball games, RibAmerica festival, the Indianapolis Air Show, Indiana Fever basketball games, Concerts on the Lawn (The Lawn at White River State Park), and Symphony on the Prairie. All of these events will need to be planned for, and many of them require purchasing tickets in advance. Indy.org advises those interested in attending any of the listed activities to begin looking into them now in order to beat the rush of people.
The most popular event, according to Indy.org, is the Indiana State Fair. This year it will include concerts from Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and Sugarland. Students will not need to plan for the fair until the summer, closer to when it will actually be coming.
Although many students have begun looking at jobs for the summer, many of them are just waiting to see what the summer brings. For most, like Wendt, the summer means a break from school and a time to lay back, make some money and spend time with friends. For others like Vaughn, however, summer means a shift from a hectic school schedule to a hectic sports schedule.
“I would tell students to prioritize what they want to accomplish over the summer,” Stuelpe said. “Take things off the list that they don’t want to get done, and do only what they want to do.”
“This summer I plan to be working, hanging out with my friends, and maybe doing a little volunteer work but I don’t have anything really planned yet,” Wendt said. “I’m looking into a few concerts but I haven’t really started planning for that yet. I really just want to relax and enjoy my last summer here before I go off to college.”
A HiLite guide: Carmel’s Tour de Parks
May 1, 2008
By: Jade Luo <jluo@hilite.org>
West Park
2700 W. 116th Street
West Park is big and spacious, donning a carefree atmosphere. It is 120 acres, with woodland, the infamous Jill’s Hill, a lake, playground, picnic shelter and, most importantly, a lot of open space. Read more
Mormon prom gives religious opportunity
May 1, 2008
By: Mary Queisser <mqueisser@hilite.org>
Junior and Mormon Anne Moyes’s prom dress is long and made of red silk. However, it needs some adjustments: sleeves. To go to the prom she’s planning on attending this year, the dress must have at least capped sleeves in order meet dress code requirements.
It also covers her shoulders, chest and back. “So it’s different from other prom dresses,” Moyes said.
Senior and Mormon Evan Crowder said, “We try to uphold a high standard of dress at our church, and obviously that isn’t quite met by everyone at school, and that makes a lot of people uncomfortable. So they end up not going, and we started noticing that and started our own.”
Along with attending prom here, Moyes and Crowder will be going to a separate Mormon prom with their church due to values upheld by their religion.
Mormon prom, also known as Latter-Day Saints (LDS) prom, started three years ago. It’s being held May 24 in the gym of The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints in Fishers and is open to the 16 to 18-year-old age group. Crowder said it’s always been a great success.
According to Christian Hanselmann, who’s in charge of planning Mormon prom, the event varyingly gets a turn-out of about 200 people. But that number includes all of Indiana, not just Carmel.
Crowder said, “It’s really cool because we got people coming from three and a half hours away.”
Mormon prom’s values extend past simple dress code into other matters. Hanselmann, said, “School proms are great, but our religion doesn’t put as much emphasis on singles dating, but typically society does. So we started Mormon prom to help members of the church still have a prom in high school, yet it’s still a wholesome religious experience.”
Moyes said that the music is also different from normal proms. “We don’t play Christian tunes, but good songs that don’t have any swearing or anything like that, and it’s music that you have fun dancing to,” she said.
Hanselmann said people go on group dates instead and hasn’t heard of someone going on a single date for prom. He said they generally go out to eat before or after, then go back to someone’s house for an after-party.
Other rules include limits on proximity while dancing. “The joke the church has is, ‘You have to leave room for the spirit.’” Crowder said. “As long as you have a few inches between you, you’re good.”
Both Crowder and Moyes said they will still be going to prom here despite possible discomforts. “I like going to school proms because I get to see all my friends and stuff,” Crowder said. “While the whole nasty dancing kind of bothers me, I don’t really let it get to me, and I just go off and do my own thing.”
Moyes said, “You just go to have fun and not worry about dirty dancing and feeling uncomfortable around other people.”
Last-minute tuxes can be easy, affordable
May 1, 2008
DC Tux
(622 Station Dr., Carmel)
Last day: Day of the prom
Availability: It doesn’t make a difference if you come early or late. Same options, same variety, same fitting.
Price: $90 to $110 for tuxedo, vest/tie are $15, shoes are $15 to $18.
Source: Manager Don Corbett
King’s Image
(8520 Castleton Square Dr., Indianapolis)
Last day: Today
Availability: Most style and sizing options should still be available, but not necessarily the most popular styles. However, they cannot guarantee a perfect fit due to the lateness of the order.
Price: $85 to $150 for tuxedo, including vest, tie and shoes.
Source: Manager Ashley O’Bryan
Sam’s Tux
(6056 E. 82nd St., Indianapolis)
Last day: Day of the prom
Availability: Sometimes some tuxedos are not available if you come late, so if you come as soon as possible, it would be better. On the day of prom, some styles, vest colors, etc. may be out for that date already, though most of the time it should be fine.
Price: $130 to $140 for tuxedo, including vest,tie and shoes.
Source: Manager Sam
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