By: Karolina Rodriguez '25
Source: ICA's Photography Club
Prom can be traced back to the simple co-ed banquets that 19th-century American universities held for each year's graduating class. Over the years, however, it has become an essential rite of passage for high-schoolers across the country, where peers can celebrate with each other as they near the end of their high-school careers.
This year, ICA Cristo Rey hosted their first in-person prom in the three years since the pandemic started! The theme was Once Upon A Dream, and prom was held on Friday, May 6 in The Hibernia in the Market District. A bank-turned-banquet-hall, the venue showcased a dramatic glass dome, ornate fixtures, and a colossal vault which became a popular photo spot throughout the night: the perfect setting to fit the theme of the party!
On prom day, the juniors were dismissed from school early while the seniors had the day off to get ready for the big night. Leah Martinez ‘22 said that she “felt nervous and excited because ICA hasn’t had a Prom since the start of the pandemic, and it was something to look forward to amidst the anxieties and stress of senior year.”
Doors opened at 6pm, as attendees and dates poured in decked out in an array of formal wear, long gowns, suits, and tuxedos. A common trend spotted by our editors: satin, sparkles, and sequins! Of course, this year's prom looks somewhat different from pre-pandemic times. Students sported masks along with their corsages, and proof of a negative COVID test was required for entry.
Appetizers and finger foods were served along with everyone’s favorite, chocolate chip cookies. Prom was especially fun for our seniors and many pictures were taken at the photo booth to soak up the last bits of their senior year. Leah said, “We were just taking it all in, it felt very surreal because we had been talking about it for weeks and the day had finally arrived.”
To remember the night the seniors and juniors were given a keepsake, a cute jar filled with candy, and the prom logo on the lid. It is quite obvious that the Prom Committee put a lot of thought and effort into planning the perfect night for the seniors and juniors!