By: Sai Velamala and Abby Allen

   After weeks of planning and anticipation, MRHS held its annual prom on April 24th at Martins West, where students gathered from 7:00 to 10 p.m. for an evening themed around Casino Night. The venue featured elaborate decorations, a dance floor encircled by tables, and a spread of food that set the tone for one of the school’s most anticipated social events of the year.

  Prom may only be one day, but months go into planning for the event. From buying a dress or renting a tux, getting early school dismissal slips, to booking makeup artists and hairstylists, all of these things are just small parts of the preparation and anticipation that go into prom. 

   “I have been booking the party bus for my group, I’m getting my nails done, getting a spray tan, making sure I have all my jewelry and shoes, just overall getting everything ready,” senior Alejandra Lopez explained.

   For guys, this process before prom may look different.

   “I just had to buy my tux and make sure I had everything ready the day of, so it was a lot simpler but still important to plan because I planned the week off,” senior Sid Raghunath said.

   As prom approached, students worked hard to make sure the day went smoothly and with minimal stress. 

   That final Friday of prom is when students’ efforts and preparation come to fruition. The day is full of buzzing chatter about the night to come, and a flood of upperclassmen are ready to leave after the third period bell rings. This year, a system was implemented to make early dismissal as quick and organized as possible, and easier for the admin to track. As long as parents signed the early dismissal form, after having it approved by the front office, students were allowed to exit the building after the third period on the day of prom. 

   After leaving school, students began their own preparations, and most started their prom photos around four PM.

 “I went to the gardens to take photos, and it was very chaotic as there were a lot of people because there were kids from other schools that had prom that day. We could not find parking,” senior Neha Praveen stated.

   After photos, students made their way to prom, many traveling by party bus or carpooling with friends as excitement built for the night ahead. To enter the event, students were required to be present for at least the first three periods of the school day and to present an ID upon arrival. Once inside, the dance floor quickly filled as music played throughout the night.

   “The energy was really high, and everyone was dancing and having a good time. I kept getting trampled over,” Praveen expressed.

   “It was nice to see everyone dressed up and just enjoying the night together,” senior Swara Kakaraparthi added.

   The menu featured a wide variety of options, ranging from meatballs to chicken marsala. A soda bar was available, along with ice cream and frozen drinks for dessert, giving students plenty of choices throughout the evening. 

   After prom, students had the option to attend the school-hosted After Prom event at Stratosphere Social in Sykesville. Tickets cost $29, and the event ran from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. It offered food, unlimited drinks, and a range of activities including bowling, air hockey, and arcade games. By participating in games, students could enter raffles for prizes such as iPads, laptops, Mustang merchandise, and cash.

  “My favorite part of After Prom was the bowling game and the cheeseburgers. I had so many cheeseburgers cause they were so good,” senior Junie Ro explained.    

Overall, the MRHS 2026 prom was a memorable and well-organized event that brought students together, allowing seniors to celebrate the end of their high school experience. Months of preparation paid off in an evening filled with excitement and lasting memories, supported by staff members who helped ensure everything ran smoothly from start to finish.