Seniors to step out for night of dancing at their second prom

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — The Gardner High School cafeteria will be transformed into a scene reminiscent of the 1940s from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. this Thursday night, as local senior citizens are invited to “dance the night away” at the Senior Citizen Prom. The Gardner High School Senior Citizen Prom Committee, a United Way Youth Venture team from the high school, organized the event. English teacher Darren Elwell champions the prom committee, who said it was through the combined efforts of more than a dozen juniors and seniors at the high school that the dance was made a reality. “The event is part of the United Way Youth Venture Program at the high school, which is designed to empower young people to make positive changes in their communities and promotes youth leadership,” said Mr. Elwell. The program was founded in 2007 when students came up with the idea to sponsor a senior citizen prom as a way to provide a unique service to the Gardner community. “Last year they came up with the idea and a team,” said Mr. Elwell. “It was approved by the United Way last year, and they had a lot of different people offering donations, including a $1,000 grant from the United Way.” Mr. Elwell added that the money that committee raised in 2007 was carried over to this year’s event, and the students had what he called a “very generous budget.” According to Mr. Elwell, 2007’s prom was just as much fun for the students who helped organize it as it was for the senior citizens who attended. “It’s a really good time for everyone involved,” said Mr. Elwell, who added that in 2007 there was a number of students who brought senior citizens out on the floor for a dance. The students staffing the event will greet participants at the door, oversee the various activities planned for the night including managing the food and refreshments. “Jillian Legere and Lauren Leblanc, two juniors, have been working very hard planning this year’s event,” said Mr. Elwell, “and Edwin Martinez and Brad Harasimowicz are two seniors who were at the event last year, and danced the night away.” He added that the students on the committee have been actively recruiting other students at the high school to participate in staffing and dancing at the event. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 3 on 4/30/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 103)