Lake Forest High School Students Enjoy a Hollywood Moment Walking Down the Red Carpet

Beautiful young ladies in stunning gowns, handsome young men in tuxedos, cameras, a cheering crowd, and a long red carpet, these are the ingredients for a Hollywood awards show, or, the Lake Forest High School Prom.

Since Prom 2005, has put down a red carpet for prom attendees to walk on as they proceed from the main doors of the school, decorated to match the theme of the dance, to the coach buses that safely drive them to Chicago for a memorable night of dining and dancing with their peers.

The Red Carpet Parade, set for Saturday evening (May 14), has become an event that attracts local and neighboring members of the community, as well as family members of the Prom attendees. Last year, several hundred spectators showed up to watch the nearly 800 glamorous students walk down the red carpet.

This year Prom Committee co-chairs JoAnn Kenehan and Patti Scribner took the advice of past chairs and added a separate Red Carpet Committee, consisting of Sue Harmon and Lisa Garrity, to manage the popular event.

“The past few years, community interest in the LFHS Prom has grown and we are happy to share the evening with the community while still featuring our students. We estimate approximately 500 viewers if the weather is good,” said Kenehan.

Harmon said due to the increased community involvement, they have added additional bleachers to be placed near the front door so parents “have a better opportunity to see their student.” They have also extended the length of the carpet to give photographers more room for pictures.

Garrity also noted that this year they will make sure the buses leave more space so spectators have a larger viewing area.

“There are so many students who attend prom, and therefore so many buses in the drive waiting to take the students to the city that it is difficult to provide a large, open viewing area. We hope that family and community members will be patient and courteous as they wait to see their special student proceed out from the high school,” said Garrity.

If you plan on attending the event, park at the train station and then walk to the high school. Parking is at a minimum at the school and is reserved for the students.

Although the details and logistics of the Red Carpet Parade are important matters, the students are more concerned with the drama, glamour, and fun that the parade adds to the evening.

Lake Forest High School graduate Max Moore, now finishing his freshman year at the University of Iowa as a film major, hopes to walk the Academy Awards red carpet someday. His walk down the LFHS red carpet allowed him to practice.

“Walking on the carpet, it was like tunnel vision before a race, I had my eye on the bus. But, the best part was having someone special by my side,” said Moore.

Asked if he would like to walk the LFHS red carpet again, he said, “It’s like a really scary water slide. You wait in line for a long time, you do it once, but once you’ve done it you have the bragging rights and you don’t do it again.”

Marlee Berger, a senior, will make her second appearance on the red carpet. She believes the parade, and the fact that there is actually a red carpet to walk on, makes the night even more special.

“It was fun to watch when I was younger, being in it makes it more fun because you get to be seen by everyone and show off,” said Berger.

The anticipation of the Red Carpet Parade is nerve wracking, but exciting, for the students who will be making the walk for the first time.

Emily Mordini, a junior, said the Red Carpet Parade has been the main topic of conversation at her lunch table for the past few weeks. “The girls seem more excited than the boys; I think everyone’s really apprehensive to walk down,” she said.

As intimidating as it might be to walk down several stairs wearing heels in front of hundreds of people, Mordini is still looking forward to it.

“I’m so excited to walk down. I just hope I don’t trip,” she said.

The students have a great time showing off their glamorous clothing and being in the spotlight while walking on the red carpet. Their parents want to capture that moment by being front and center to snap a good photo. That can be easier said than done when there is a large crowd and limited space.

Thanks to the "Be True to Your School" silent auction that took place last fall, Evelyn and Dr. John Stamelos won’t need to worry about finding a good spot. They will have the best viewing location available.

One of the items at the auction was VIP seating for six and a parking spot at the Red Carpet Parade. The Stamelos’ knew all three of their children might be attending prom this year, so they outbid seven other bidders and won the package.

As luck would have it, Cynthia, a senior, and twins George and Simone, juniors, will all be attending prom and walking the red carpet. Evelyn and John, along with four lucky guests, will have front row seats to view and photograph one of the most exciting nights of the year.

“We’re looking forward to capturing the kids at their finest. Last year, a couple of Dads guestimated that $250,000 must have been spent on dresses, shoes, and hairstyles,” said John Stamelos.

Parents and friends who don’t have VIP seats don’t need to worry if they miss out on the perfect photo of their student. The Prom Committee and Lake Forest High School will have a professional photographer and the talented students and staff from the Telecom department at the high school taking pictures and video recording the student processional.

“I hope we have added the opportunity for parents and all other members of the community to see how lovely, mature, sophisticated and fun the students at LFHS can be. It really is quite a sight to see 800 beautifully dressed, smiling kids filing out the vintage doors of the school on their way to a big evening downtown. I think the community gathers because we are all so proud of them,” said Scribner.