by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington High School prom is just 11 days away. So is Project Prom, the party after the party — the second stage of a memorable evening for WHS juniors and seniors and their dates.

This year, participating Wellington students are heading north to Wichita to go to All-Star Adventures. The east location on Webb Road will include multiple fun activities, from miniature golf, mega arcades, golf driving range, go-karts, batting cages, bumper cars, and bowling. Also, Project Prom officials are designing an escape room along with other fun-filled activities. Students are expected to return to Wellington by 4 a.m. Let’s just say your junior and senior could be dragging before it is all over. After all prom walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. – 10 1/2 hours earlier… And that doesn’t count the prom preparation.

This year, Project Prom has raised $5,200 in door prizes, including items perfect for dorm rooms such as mini-fridges, TVs, futons, Kerigs, and other items. That doesn’t include the expense of food such as pizza, sandwiches, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks available to students during the event. Without the generous contributions of local sponsors the event would not be possible. The list of sponsors is as follows:

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The decision for students to leave on school buses to Wichita for Project Prom has been going about 10 years now. It occurs every other year and alternates with the traditional home-grown Project Prom held at the high school.

“We do this to provide something different for the kids going to prom both their junior and senior years,” said Becky Alexander, a Project Prom Board of Director. “This year, the juniors will experience things in Wichita. As seniors, they will be in Wellington. You change things up, and that encourages them to come back. We have noticed since doing this, participation is up.”

Of course, ultimately, the goal of Project Prom is to provide a safe alternative for students instead of going to drinking parties that were common in the mid-80s and before.

Interestingly, Project Prom has been a Wellington tradition since 1987 and this marks the 37th year of holding the event. It started with a group of student ambassadors and parents and has grown in popularity ever since. A few kids don’t go to the prom but will Project Prom.

The event has evolved. In earlier years, it used to be held at Memorial Auditorium. Those were the golden years when the various games were decorated. Community members would go down to witness the after-prom exhibits when the students were involved with the regular festivities at the high school.

But the days of heavily decorating the place are long gone.

“We found out the kids don’t care if it is decorated or not,” Alexander said. “They just want to have fun. So we devote our resources to doing just that.”

It is an ever-changing process. What was fun and entertaining to the student five years ago may not be today. Finding the right door prize is always changing.

“We have found students like cash,” Alexander said.

One thing that doesn’t change is the rules. Students, their parents, and their dates must sign a pledge not to drink or consume other intoxicating substances during the evening. While at Project Prom, they will be in lockdown. If they need to leave, the parents come and get them.

“Our goal is to make this event more fun than any other alternative party they may be participating in,” Alexander said. “I think we do that.”

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