The Herndon and Reston Rotary Clubs host the 2018 Senior Senior Prom

Get ready to kick up your heels and have a good a time at the 2018 Senior Senior Prom on Saturday, May 5th from 2pm–4pm at St. Joseph’s Hall located at 750 Peachtree St, Herndon next to the Herndon Community Center. All area residents ages 50 years or better are invited to attend and dress in prom attire or beach wear. The event is free, but donations will be appreciated. Now in its 16th year of operation, the Herndon and Reston Rotary Clubs produce the free event with the generous support of many local organizations and businesses.

Like any prom, corsages and boutonnieres help make the event classy. As prom guests enter the hall, volunteers from Herndon and South Lakes High Schools’ Interact Clubs will be on hand to welcome guests and offer each a carnation, pinning it on their attire.

Pat Williams, of the Herndon Rotary Club, has watched over the Welcoming Table since 2009 when she came up with the idea for the event. Williams said, “Senior, Senior Prom can be fun. Prom goers get to relive those days.” For some guests though, Williams has learned it isn’t about reliving their High School Prom but putting it “right.” Earlier one senior had told Williams that she had been looking forward to the prom because when she went in the 1940s, all the boys were off to war, so the girls danced with each other. She was looking forward to dancing with the men.

During the prom, The Loudoun Jazz Ensemble will play Big Band hits from the ’40s for the guests’ dancing and listening pleasure. Many couples took to the dance floor last year, not only during the gliding waltzes and continuous flowing foxtrots but the swing dancing as well. This year there will be demonstrations and dance lessons by The Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

The 50/50 raffle proved to be a great hit with prom goers last year, as was the coronation of Prom Queen, Eleanor L. Benedict and Prom King, Nick Kour. After receiving her jeweled crown, Benedict adjusted it on her head and said, “I’m so surprised. Does it look ok?”

Register to attend by visiting www.herndonrotary.org or call 703-328-8521 by May 1. Transportation can be requested for Herndon & Reston residents.

For more information about the Rotary Clubs of Reston and Herndon as well as their High School counterpart organization, Interact, visit herndonrotary.org and restonrotary.org

Pictured at top left: Although a 50/50 raffle can be a promising possibility, Dottie Taylor didn’t mind that Asya Jahngir and Emily Postlethwait, members of Herndon’s Interact Club, Rotary’s service club for teens, didn’t give her the winning ticket last year

Pictured at top center: Paul Newcombe of Fairfax and Joan Steyn of Annandale proved to be a striking and graceful couple on the dance floor at 2017’s Senior Prom.

Pictured at top right: Chrissy Kelley from Interact Club at South Lakes High School in Reston presented Aroeva Klavolij with a carnation corsage to welcome her to the 2017 Senior Senior Prom.

Photos by Mercia Hobson