Oak Forest HS Prom Fashion Show a Smashing Success

The Oak Forest High School Junior Class Council outdid themselves once again with the Prom Fashion Show. The theme of the fashion show this year was “The Great Gatsby: Masquerade Ball.” Students were welcomed to the fashion show by Jillian Moss and Anthony Pellegrino, and then the show was taken over by the two MC’s, Sara Valente and Rory McAuliffe.

Senior couples strutted their stuff on the catwalk. The following seniors showed off their fashions with a debonair air: Patrick Kristin and Shannon Coyle, Billy Hults and Sarah Wazny, Jake Soltis and Olivia Onate, Paul Burghard and Katie Scheidt, Colin Sullivan and Elizabeth Hendzel, Connor Rago and Alyssa Kolecki, Michael Kane and Jessica Veyette, Brian Swanson and Benita Joseph, Jack Neylon and Lea Marrs, Kevin Conway and Jessica Sandoval, Mousa Jodeh and Emma Cramer, Nick Kunnath and Sabrina Swidergal, and Mark Faltynek and Alex Lambros.

Select couples presented a dance in their prom fashions so patrons could see how the fabrics moved. Each couple prepared this dance on their own time, off campus. One of the dancers, Paul Burghard, said that he and his partner, Katie Scheidt and another couple, Jack Neylon and Lea Marrs, got together at Katie’s house to work out their moves. “Katie has been in dance so she choreographed it,” Paul said. “It’s lucky because I have two left feet. I mixed the music that we used in Garage Band and mixed a medley of popular contemporary dance songs together. I felt like it was a lot of work, but the show was awesome and I had a great time.” Other couples that danced were Patrick Kristin and Shannon Coyle, Billy Hults and Sarah Wazny, and Jake Soltis and Olivia Onate. Oak Forest High School student Ashley Rintz said about the dances, “They were cute. I liked all of the dances. I thought Jessy Sandoval’s dress was pretty. The color and fit were good.”

Another highlight was the live student band that played throughout the evening. All the members of the band were Oak Forest High School seniors. The band’s name is Suspicious Gentlemen and the band members are Mark Burghard, Paul Burghard, John Gleeson, and Amanda Petit. Some of the numbers they played were covers, but two were originals. The Suspicious Gentlemen have played at Kenootz Restaurant and at the Oak Forest High School Ecology Club Fashion show, held toward the end of February. Paul said, “We love playing and it is a good time doing what we love.”

A favorite of the students were the skits interspersed throughout the show. Devon Harvey said, “The Teacher’s Lounge Skit was funny. The show was cool all around.”

Dresses and tuxedoes were donated by JP Tuxedo, Kimberly Bond Boutique, and Pink Slip. Flowers were donated by Cicero Avenue Florist and Kelly Flynn Florist, and hair services were donated by Opulent Beauty Salon.

The Junior Class is sponsored by Oak Forest High School teacher Kristy Hazzard-Collins.