As the 2024-2025 school year winds down, students begin to look forward to a multitude of end-of-year events: spring concerts, spring sports, and for juniors and seniors—Prom.
Planned by the 2026 class officers and class advisor, Mr. Casey Cooperman, the dance will be held just weeks from now on Friday, May 9th, at Billera Hall Gymnasium of DeSales University.
Differing from locations of past years, such as Steel Stacks (2024) or Bear Creek (2022), Prom 2025 is unique in that its venue is located just one mile away from Southern Lehigh High School. Although this is convenient in more ways than one, the selection of Billera Hall was less based on location and more so based on size and accommodation.
“The class of 2026 is the largest grade Southern Lehigh has ever had,” junior and class Fundraising Treasurer Anna Schaninger said. “So accommodating our class, the senior class, and the outside dates was our top priority… we wanted there to be plenty of space for everyone to fit comfortably.”
Many venues that properly accommodated this 500+ occupancy need were located over an hour away, or, in the case of Steel Stacks, booked up for multiple years. So, the class officers felt that DeSales was by far the right option.
In addition to a big space, the junior class officers promise an electric atmosphere, with the help of fun decorations and detailed setups.
“It’s not going to feel like a gym,” Mr. Cooperman said. “There’ll be balloon arches, backdrops, uplighting, lights, photo booths, and so much more.”
Along with the venue’s aesthetics, the food will be served to guests in a buffet style, as opposed to a traditional sit-down dinner. In this fashion, a buffet lends itself better to the intended flow of Prom as guests can eat at their leisure and have the freedom to dance in between.
However, with each little detail comes an added cost to the event— a cost that is entirely up to the junior class to fund.
As of September, the 2026 elected class officers are Payton “P.J.” Clauser (President), Avinash “Avi” Shah (Vice-President), Milo Smith (Secretary), Malya Best (Finance Treasurer), and Anna Schaninger (Fundraising Treasurer). Together, alongside Mr. Cooperman, these five students have worked diligently, ensuring Prom 2025 will be a night to remember.
The junior class strives to hold one or two big fundraisers a year, saving school hours and Spartan periods for a focus on other clubs and organizations.
Last year, the class of 2026 coordinated a clothing drive and held a fundraiser at Coopersburg’s local ice cream shop, the Inside Scoop. With the lucrative success of last year’s efforts, class officers collectively decided to hold a second annual clothing drive, as well as hosting a “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” t-shirt sale.
“We want to have a spirit shirt ready to go for the start of the football season next year, rather than spending so much time collecting and processing orders, and, in return, not getting t-shirts until halfway through the season already,” Mr. Cooperman said.
With the return of successful past fundraisers and the rise of promising new ones, the class of 2026 was able to raise a significant amount of money, which in turn benefitted not only the ambiance of Prom itself but affordability in ticket prices—which currently sits at $75.00 per ticket.
With each little detail put into the dance—from the food served to the entertainment provided— came a great amount of planning, brainstorming, and reconfiguring to ensure the success of the event.
“One of the biggest challenges we faced while planning Prom was the artistic direction,” class Secretary Smith said. “There were endless amounts of ideas and themes thrown around, and it felt daunting to have to narrow it down to just one, knowing that no matter what you choose, there will be people that disagree with your decision.”
Nonetheless, with teamwork, the junior class persisted and are moving into the big night with confidence.
“The class officers have been raising funds and planning Prom for three years,” Schaninger said. “So to see it come to fruition in May will be extremely rewarding and exciting for us.”