Class of 2016 amps up prom

For years, Clark Magnet has usually had their senior prom at one of three venues: The Castaway, the La Cañada Country Club, and the Odyssey. However, this year the Class of 2016 has changed the game. The Class of 2016 distinguished themselves when they pulled off the first ever winter formal — selling more tickets than anticipated.

This year, ASB seniors were able to change the prom venue, choosing Calamigos Ranch in Burbank. However, the process was not easy.

Ever since the start of junior year, seniors knew they wanted change the prom venue, and during the summer they visited five venues. Seniors in ASB fought tirelessly to get new venues approved. “We wanted a fun and exciting new venue to fit out amazing class,” said ASB president Timothy Cruz. Cruz said that the administration was very hesitant to let them change venues, with one of their biggest concerns being parking. The administration set specific guidelines on where prom could be held — there had to parking, security, and it could not be too far — in other words, not in Los Angeles.

Early in Clark’s existence as a high school, the ASB hosted the senior prom at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, and due to the problems with parking, and the venue being too far; prom has not been held in L.A since.

ASB advisor Elaine Snodgress says that each class wants to do something different, to stand out, and it is left up to the seniors to decide where they want to have their prom. “The biggest factor in changing a venue is motivation,” Snodgress said. “Class of 2016 is a very motivated class, and they have had consistent leadership since the very beginning.”

ASB chose Calamigos because it has indoor and outdoor venues for special events such as weddings and proms. This venue has over 75 acres of fields with large sycamore trees. They have different ballrooms to choose from, and students can design the room according to what they like, even the napkins.

Calamigos has an outdoor gazebo with a waterfall, great for pictures. Ballrooms are designed with chandeliers, glass panels and elegant colors. This location has parking, and is not too far away for safety to be an issue.

English teacher Jennifer Davis, the senior class advisor, said that this year’s seniors wanted to branch out from the typical venues. This was her first year being an advisor for a class, and she liked how the Class of 2016 had new ideas and were able to produce results. “This is a very cohesive class, they have a strong sense of camaraderie,” Davis said. “It was very exciting to be a part of the process.”

The PTSA  also helped ASB select this new prom venue. “Lucy Petrosian from PTSA was very helpful,” said Senior Class Vice President  Mayumi Lometillo. “She helped us look for places along with ways to help save money.” This is Petrosian’s first time helping seniors with their prom, and she is even donating the senior class flowers and decorations for their prom.

Petrosian helped the students find their venues and took them to four sites she thought they would like the most. ASB students wanted a venue that everyone would be comfortable with. “I knew they would love the Calamigos venue so I kept it till last, and they loved it right away,” Petrosian said.

This new venue will be more expensive than previous venues, but the senior class believes they can afford it due to all the fundraisers they have had since freshman year. Some of the fundraisers include Pinkberry, Jamba Juice and candy sales. The senior class began the year with nearly $10,000. The Catalina trip and the Winter Formal raised the most money. Prom tickets are not anticipated to rise, and if anything will be lower than what the costs were last year; tickets are expected to be around $85, according to Cruz.

ASB students said that the process to get a venue approved was quite tedious. ASB students first visited the site, had to approve it, have their advisor approve it, and then Associate Principal, Lena Kortoshian visited and okayed the prom venue. “We vigorously pushed for change because we wanted to do something big and different or our senior year,” said Student Store Commissioner Jada Javier. “I feel that through this we will leave an impact on Clark.”

“ASB is still working to find a theme for this year’s prom, but it is a huge relief to have found a venue already,” Javier said.