Pennsylvania Prom Students Kiss Way To World Record

FAIRLESS HILLS, PA — Students attending a suburban Philadelphia prom that's been called the best in the United States have kissed their way to a Guinness world record.

The Guinness World Records team has notified Pennsbury High School administrators that a mural displayed at the prom held last Saturday has been documented as the largest mural of kisses, or lip prints, ever.

The mural, which, keeping with the prom's theme, spelled out the words "Rock Music," featured a total of 41,692 lipstick kisses, blowing away the previous record of 13,316 set in 2012 in Brazil.

The announcement of the record was made by Pennsbury High School East Principal Reggie Meadows at commencement ceremonies Tuesday evening. The school is located in suburban Bucks County just north of Philadelphia.

A spokeswoman for Guinness World Records confirmed the new record to Patch on Wednesday.

The record-breaking effort was spearheaded by Pennsbury parents Gary and Amy Nolan, whose daughter, Melanie, just graduated. Gary Nolan is a record-holder himself, having run the fastest marathon in a colonial American costume.

"We are delighted that the Pennsbury community embraced the work involved with earning this world record," the Nolans said in a written statement. "This project would never have come to fruition without countless hours of volunteers working in various aspects of the mural."

In recent years, the prom at Pennsbury — where students, administrators, faculty and parents work year-round in preparation — has been named the best prom in the United States by Reader's Digest and other outlets.

This year, rap artist Desiigner, "Jersey Shore" alum D.J. Pauly D and a rock band made up of faculty members performed at the prom, which also features an opening parade and an open house that allows parents and other community members to tour the school in advance of the prom, which runs into the wee hours of the morning.

Over the past 3 1/2 months, the Nolans led the charge to collect lip prints from students, parents, alumni, teachers, administrators and community members of Pennsbury. The 63-foot mural was created by volunteer students, led by Pennsbury Prom co-chairs Mollie Nellist and Savannah Fuhrmann, with help from prom co-chair Angelica Ramirez.

Prom faculty advisers Tony Napoli and Curtis May also helped lead the effort.

Pennsbury senior Shivani Patel, a media production student, was at each counting and gluing session, recording the effort for documentation, which Guinness requires.

And members of the Pennsbury community donated lipstick and other cosmetics for the project, notably Pennsbury parent Patrick Gilbride, who facilitated a major donation of lipstick from Estee Lauder and Smashbox cosmetics.

The lipstick prints were applied from February-May, at sporting and other school events, prom committee meetings and in students' off-school time.