By Hayden Garrett
Walking into a building full of seniors with classical music playing and tables set up with a variety of foods. Kids that have been going to school together for years partying out their last couple months together.
Delta’s Senior Ball was Jan. 25 at the Wedding Factory in Albany. Students had to pay $30 for a couple and $20 for a single.
This dance was a special memory for many seniors, but for Christopher Rench, it’s a night he “will remember forever.”
That night wasn’t only a time for him to dress up and celebrate his last couple of months with his peers but also his 18th birthday.
Rench went to the ball that night like every other senior but has one memory he can’t stop talking about. Senior Jennings Wine picked him up for his birthday shoutout.
“Hearing the DJ say my name on the announcement saying, ‘Everyone wish Chris Rench a happy birthday,’ and everyone turned and looked at me and cheered for me,” Rench said.
Being picked up, carried around and cheered for could be a nightmare for some, but it was the highlight of his night.
This night wasn’t just special for him. Senior Myla Fink and her group of 20 other people made sure to party hard while they were all still together.
“We all danced and it was so much fun, and my calves still hurt right now,” Myla said, three days after the dance.
Myla’s day looked a lot like many other seniors: getting ready with her friends, taking photos, going to the dance, and an after party celebration with her close friends till late that night.
Although the senior ball was mostly partying there was still a sentimental feeling that night.
“I think it brought us a little closer together,” senior Bronson Edwards said. “It was just seniors there for the most part.”
These students have gone to school together for at least four years, many since sixth grade, and even some since kindergarten. These seniors previously haven’t gotten the chance to hang out with just each other, but that night was a time to celebrate each other and the time they spent together.
“It was really fun just to see all the people that we’ve gone to school with and just have a dance for us,” senior Addison Phillippe said.
Seniors said they enjoyed the food or the music the most at the dance. Rench said that it was different from other dances because they got to eat at the dance, and the music was better because they had “non-family friendly songs playing.”
Being able to just go and enjoy that dance was a blessing for most seniors but a select few knew what had to happen behind the scenes for it to all come together. Seniors Mackemzie Lipps and Christina Thorpe were among those who helped plan it.
“This is a student planned dance that is planned by the senior class officers. As the president I have kind of taken charge getting the venue, food, dj, decorations, etc.,” Lipps said.
Although they had their help from the class sponsors, Mrs. Hopkins and Mrs. Crouch, the senior class officers did most if not all of the behind the scenes work. Decorating, selecting a venue, selling tickets and more were all up to the students.
This also includes the theme decision.
“The class officers voted for the theme “A Winter Night in Paris’ because it was classy and unique,” Thope said.
With the planning, getting ready with friends before the dance, and separate after parties left plenty of room for things to go wrong. Yet the seniors managed to party hard and have fun for their last few months together.
