Hair, Dancing, Dresses and More at Liberty High School Prom and Grad Extravaganza (With Video)

Though it’s only February, the rush of warm weather last week brought on a bout of senioritis for some area high schoolers, and with it – prom fever.

Liberty High School’s senior class capitalized Saturday by holding a Prom and Grad Extravanganza trade show and fundraising event.

Approximately 25 vendors – from hair and makeup salons to graduation party caterers – turned out to offer coupons, free samples and giveaways to county high school students who attended for a $5 ticket.

“We’ve had really good, solid fundraisers,” said Mollie Moran, senior class president at Liberty. She said her goal is to have $45 tickets for prom, which is being held at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, and $5 senior cruise tickets.

The extravaganza Saturday was the second of its kind, expanding on an idea from the class of 2010. Joanne Hart, co-advisor of last year’s senior class, said after repeated questions from students about tuxedos, dresses and limo rentals, the idea was born to have an event where students could find all the prom information they want.

“It’s the basic stuff you don’t think about until prom time and we thought we’d put it all in one day,” Hart said.

This year’s senior class expanded the event to include graduation vendors as well. 

“It’s the pinnacle of your high school career,” said Denise Khouri, Prom and Grad Extravaganza Committee Chair. Khouri said most parents plan to spend money on their child’s prom and graduation, but if students come home with a couple of coupons and free samples, “maybe the cost comes down a little bit.”

The center of the room had a rotation of entertaining and educational seminars throughout the afternoon, including fashion shows, a quick lesson in sprucing up old dresses, and a dance demo with choreographer Nellie Glover.

Senior Kori Meyers participated in the dance demonstration. “It’s better than what they do now,” she said of the moves she and her fellow dancers were learning. “Our generation needs to learn how to dance.”

Meyers was in line to try out a hairstyle with representatives from Amie’s Hair Pros in Sykesville, one of the vendors in attendance giving students information about their services. 

Senior Jordan Groose spent time in a chair having her hair styled because, as she said, “I usually have a hard time with my hair.”

Groose helped set up the event in the morning and spent the day there. “I think it’s a good thing for our class and it’s nice to see the makeup and options you have.”

She said she was not only getting hair and makeup ideas but planning to take a look at the 150 dresses for sale on consignment that had been collected.

The dresses were donated with suggested prices and sellers received 60 percent of the proceeds if it sold and the remaining 40 percent went to the senior class. Unsold dresses could be recollected after the event with any leftover items donated to Northwestern High School in Baltimore City.

Senior Amanda Hagan and her mother, Renee, were looking through the dresses to try to find a bargain. Hagan’s dress of choice online costs $200. “I came here to see if I like anything else,” she said.

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