Features

YMCA’s After Prom hosts an unforgettable night for students filled with great prizes

Nighthawk News Alumni • April 25, 2018

By Koral Tucker, Staff Writer

After Prom is an event that provides a fun and safe night for high school prom-goers from Manteo, First Flight and Cape Hatteras. The all-night event is held every year following prom at the Outer Banks Family YMCA from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., and the best part is that it’s free! With over 450 students pre-registered, this year’s After Prom was the biggest one yet.

Over one hundred businesses and organizations contributed funds, donations for prizes and food for the event. There were even games such as laser tag, bowling and the chance to grab cash in a money machine.

*Students feast on food from Duck Donuts and Helen’s at the After Prom at the YMCA. Photo courtesy of OBX After Prom Party*

“My favorite part about After Prom was playing laser tag with 50 people,” junior Ben Tran said. Tran also was one of the many students who went home with a prize, winning a DJI Spark drone.

Other prizes included two used cars, an iPad, a MacBook Air, a TV, a guitar, a $500 scholarship and several other items donated by local businesses.

“The one thing I’ll remember the most is how happy people were to win prizes and scholarships,” junior Melanie Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez won a Fitbit, Beats earbuds, a free month at momentum fitness, a free smoothie per month for a year from Tropical Smoothie and a Tropical Smoothie cup.

With a contribution from Outer Banks Pest Control, Kelly’s Automotive was able to provide two cars to be given away. Senior Jenna Struck was one of two lucky students to win a car.

“I won a Ford Taurus and I was really shocked when I heard my name being called for the car. I was not expecting that at all,” she said.

*Jenna Struck poses with the car she won at After Prom. Photo courtesy of After Prom*

Food and drinks provided for students included Booty Treats, Mulligans, Front Porch, Helen’s Biscuits, Duck Donuts and many more.

“The best part about After Prom was definitely the food. I ate so much,” Struck said with a laugh.

All students who pre-registered for After Prom were entered in a drawing to win a MacBook Air, donated by the Dare County Boat Builders Foundation. Junior Eden Buchert, who is a student at Manteo, won the MacBook.

“It was so early in the morning and I was really tired. It didn’t register until my friend said I won. I am going next year for sure, I had so much fun,” Buchert said.

Junior Grace Hook won a Yamaha Acoustic/electric guitar and a $25 gift card to Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe.

“I felt an array of emotions – I was just so shocked and happy cause I could never afford something like this and that night we had a sleepover and I even slept with it next to me,” Hook exclaimed.

Many students left After Prom with great memories and exciting prizes; however, the event wouldn’t have been a success without the help of multiple local businesses and community volunteers.

“The best part about after prom was the staff’s energy,” Gonzalez said. “It helped us get into it and stay awake. I’m definitely going next year, I had the best time.”

Junior Koral Tucker can be reached at [email protected].

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