Deer Lakes High School hosts prom for senior citizens

If you’re over 55 years old and looking for an excuse to dress up and have some fun then you’re in luck.

The Deer Lakes High School National Honor Society is putting on a Senior Citizen Prom Night in May as a way to provide a night of entertainment for the area’s older folks.

“We want to make this special and such a memorable night for them,” said senior Isabella Porco, 18.

The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 10 at the East Union Community Center, 272 East Union Road in West Deer.

The cost is a $10 donation to the honor society. Attendees will get a buffet dinner and music provided by a local DJ. A king and queen will be crowned as well. To RSVP call Kathryn Makuta at 724-265-4341 by May 3.

The honor society members have been planning and fundraising for months. The cost to put on the prom is about $1,200 to $1,500.

The teens have been “flocking” to raise money. The process involves putting a bunch of plastic flamingos in someone’s lawn with a note from the National Honor Society.

“In order for us to remove the flamingos we ask for a donation,” Porco said.

So far they’ve gotten about $300.

The theme, “A Night of Stars,” is Hollywood inspired. They hope to have attendees walk the “red carpet” as they show up.

“I am hoping for an extravagant night,” said senior Megan Horchar, 17.

This is the fifth time the group has held the prom, although it hasn’t been held in consecutive years. It started in 2010 and then was held 2012-2014.

High school guidance counselor Susan Oliver said the prom night was started as a way to give back to the West Deer Alumni Club, which gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships each year.

The group meets for a monthly luncheon at the West Deer American Legion and some of the students go to help and get to know the elderly members.

“We realized as the group was getting older some of them needed help,” Oliver said. “We have so many senior citizens here in our community.”

Horchar, who also works at a senior living community, said she likes getting to know everyone at the luncheons.

“I like to know that they have somebody to talk to,” she said. “They have good stories.”

Porco agreed with that sentiment.

“They’ve honestly taught us a lot about life,” she said. “The time goes by so fast that you really need to capture each moment and hold onto it before it’s over.”

Horchar said she is excited to see how everyone is dressed, which could be anything from jeans and a nice shirt to an all-out formal dress and suit.

“I’m excited to be with them and hang out with them,” she said.

Oliver said it’s good for the students to learn from the senior citizens.

“They get so much out of it, it’s just amazing,” Oliver said. “I have so many kids that come back and say ‘I had a better time at that prom than my own prom.’”