After Prom Party has been tradition for 20 years

SIKESTON - Some things are worth doing over and over again.

"The After Prom Party has been a tradition for Sikeston High School for the past 20 years," said Cindy Friend, co-chair for the party along with Charlotte DeWitt and Regena Presley. "Prom is a very special occasion. We hope to contribute to that by hosting a party, providing gifts and making sure we help make it a special occasion as far as safety goes."

Friend said she was kind of surprised that this is the 20th anniversary of the After Prom Party, but is pleased the event has thrived.

"This ongoing tradition has the goal of providing our kids with a safe, fun and alcohol/drug-free environment," she said. "We keep trying to provide the same kind of environment so they can stay out of trouble easily."

This year's party will begin at 11:30 p.m. May 7, according to Friend, "which is the Saturday of prom." The party, which will be held at the Sikeston Elks Lodge, will run until 3 a.m.

"The Elks are donating the hall which is a nice gift," Friend said. "Following the party from 3 to 4 a.m. will be breakfast for the kids at the First Christian Church."

Tickets for students are $2 for the party and $1 for breakfast which will be catered by Rodchester's.

All seniors and juniors are invited and sophomore dates can accompany their junior or senior date.

There will be pizza and finger foods, soft drinks and other beverages, and a D.J. and sound system for entertainment.

"Every senior that attends will receive a gift of some sort," Friend said. "Quite a few juniors will receive prizes, too, depending on how many come in and how many prizes we get. We're going to have some nice stuff for them. Over the past 20 years, businesses and individuals have been very gracious with the donations and we really appreciate it."

Friend said donations for this year's gifts so far include, among other items: food certificates from Cheers, Lambert's and Dairy Queen; several miscellaneous gift baskets; disposable cameras from Super D's; Oakley sunglasses; Sabona bracelets; TVs with built-in DVD players; bowling passes; and gift certificates from Falkoff's, Sikes Sporting Goods and Calbert Photography as well as monetary gifts.

"We got a lot of $100 checks," Friend said. "The monetary donations will be listed in the 'thank you' we will run in the paper after the party."

The prize committee is considering buying more TVs or other small appliances that will prove handy at college like microwave ovens but will also set aside some of the money to be used gifts.

Committee chairpersons this year include: Megan Looney, prize committee; Linda Bell, after prom food committee; Cathy Bucher, thank you note committee; Nancy Driskill, chaperone committee; and MaryAnn Moyers, ticket sale committee.

All of the above also serve on the fund-raising committee, according to Friend. "Each committee chair has recruited their own committee members so we have a lot of parent involvement," she said.

Students will be checked at the door "to make sure nobody comes in with something that's not supposed to be there," according to Friend. "We as a committee feel strongly about supervising the students and we hold true to the purpose of the party. We will have some security on site as a deterrent."

Although safety is a essential part of the party, organizers hope it is successful in another aspect that is just as important: "I hope they have a good time," Friend said.

Those who wish to make a donation may do so by contacting one of the chairpersons or by sending monetary donations to: After Prom Party 2005, P.O. Box 393, Sikeston, MO 63801.