As the end of the 2024-2025 school year approaches, students are preparing for one of the most exciting events of the year. Cannon Falls High School’s Prom will take place on May 3rd this year, and the Prom Committee has been planning for months to ensure it’s a perfect day for the students attending. The Prom Committee organizes tickets, table seating, decor, Grand March questions, and more. This is the most eventful week for the committee because this Friday, May 2nd, they will be setting up the auditorium for the Grand March and the Cannon Falls Winery for the dinner and dance.
The Prom Committee is composed of 11 Juniors and Seniors and 2 Advisors–Morgan Schwarz and Jade Fransen. According to Alexa Shattuck, as a student member, her role in organizing the prom is “Going to meetings to figure out every little detail so that everything is perfect on prom day.” Advisor Mrs. Schwarz further articulates that “Most of the committee’s work is done on the day before prom when we set up the Auditorium and the following week when we organize and put everything away.” Committee members spend the entire school year planning. Then, the day before prom, they decorate and put all of their plans into action.
Advisors also play a crucial role in making the prom run smoothly. Their job is mostly bringing ideas to meetings that the members can approve or expand upon, but they try to leave the decision-making to the student members, so they can be as involved in the process as possible. As stated by Mrs. Schwarz, “The teachers are just the ones who do the tiny details.”
While organizing prom can surely get stressful, the committee still makes sure to enjoy the process. “I think my favorite part will be setting up on Friday, but so far, my favorite part was picking out the theme and finding specific decorations to go with it,” says Shattuck. Mrs. Schwarz agrees and expands, stating, “The most enjoyable thing is getting together with the committee the day before and watching everything come together.” She also loves watching all of their work come to life. “It is a big task to set up the Auditorium and work with the venue for decorations, and the dinner and dance are truly our celebration of pulling off another fantastic and beautiful prom.” Seeing students enjoy the prom they meticulously planned is a rewarding experience for all members of the Prom Committee.
Prom is just around the corner, and there are still a few things on the to-do list for the Committee. Mrs. Schwarz says, “Right now, all the packages we’ve ordered are hanging out in my room. We’re wrapping up the speech for the Grand March and making the programs.” These items are currently being completed. For the rest of the to-do items, “It really all comes down to Friday, where we set everything up. We have tried getting things done ahead of time, but most things need to be done in a larger space, or else my room will become the home to a prom monster!” Mrs. Schwarz explains.
While prom-goers prepare for prom with hair, nail, and spray tan appointments, the Prom Committee undertakes a whole other layer of preparation. Their commitment to creating the perfect night for Cannon Falls students is truly admirable. Without them, prom wouldn’t be the unforgettable experience it is, and many aspects of prom simply wouldn’t be possible.
