Mesa Vista High School prom-goers had the opportunity to keep the party going at the Dreamcatcher Theater May 1 and 58 of them accepted the offer. The post-prom party was sponsored by the Rio Arriba County DWI Prevention Program, local merchants and individual donors.
The Trojans were chosen for the party through a competition the Program held. Area high schools were encouraged to submit brief videos on why their school should win. Española Valley High School was the recipient last year without a competition and after the success, other high schools were asking prevention specialists Thedra Martinez and Louise Sanchez to throw a party for them. The competition was born.
The post-prom party is complete with music, movies, food and door prizes. It begins with State Police administering a Breathalyzer test. It ends with students heading home in the wee hours of Sunday morning, safe and sober, with a breakfast burrito.
Martinez said she was pleased with the attendance. There was a potential 100 attendees but since 70 people attended prom, which is where post-prom partiers are recruited, and the Program group nabbed 60, that was a pretty good percentage.
Aside from the gifts and certificates won, titles were bestowed on partiers as well. Jenna Salas and Phillip Rodriguez were voted cutest couple. Mariah Galves and Michael Velasquez were voted post prom queen and king. Sean Richardson and Lily Greenman were voted most unique male and female.
After the all night marathon Martinez and Sanchez are still trying to figure out what time it is but they said they’ll be back at it next year and hope to improve and grow the event.