As the Robinson High School students showed off their gowns and tuxedos at the Fairview Marriott on Friday, June 14, Kenny Dunscomb stayed out front for a while, talking to friends. He liked having the prom so late in the school year so he could live up to being a self-prescribed "prom pimp," he joked.
"I like it because I went to more than one prom," he said.
Robinson senior Chris Jones was sporting a green mask. Multiple proms were on his agenda as well.
"I went to a prom last week; they were giving them out," he said.
Megan Crahan looked forward to the whole weekend of festivities she had planned.
"It's a party weekend, it all flows together," she said.
Robinson wasn't the only school to have the prom late in the year. West Springfield, Lake Braddock, Centreville and Woodson also held the prom in mid-June, days before graduation. Fairfax resident and Woodson senior Shera Fuchs treated it like a prize at the end of school.
"It's like a reward," she said.
"IT'S STRESSFUL at the end of the year. It's a nice way to relax at the end," said Lake Braddock student Stephanie Landon.
Pam Schneider had other reasons why she liked the prom in mid-June, as the last school activity before graduation.
"The only reason I like it because the soccer season is over, there are no conflicts. I know other girls that had to rush around," she said.
Tom Peterson, tenth-grade health teacher from Robinson, was also the baseball coach. He appreciated the timing for the baseball season as well.
"I think it's perfect, makes it a big weekend for these guys. It seemed to always interfere with a tournament," he said.
LAURA MARCIMIAK from Robinson didn't think it was such a good idea. She looked forward to swapping stories about the once-in-a-lifetime high-school event but will only have graduation to do that.
"I think it's stupid. You never see these people again [to] talk about it," she said.
Lake Braddock junior Jessie Katz wasn't too wild about it, either.
"I think it's a little weird because most schools have it early, but it's good if you want to take somebody in college. They are back for break," she said.
With so many proms on one night, some ran into problems in one way or another. Jones from Robinson noticed it at the restaurant before the dance.
"Dinner was crowded. Our whole school was at the same place," he said.
Colette Ostrzyzek had to be prepared.
"I booked a month ahead," she said.
Miles McNamee admitted the glitch in his plans wasn't because of the multiple proms on one night.
"We had a problem, but it was our group. We weren't organized," he said.