Huntington High School’s Grandfriends club members really know how to throw a great party. The group’s annual senior, senior prom for local senior citizens is an event that simply shouldn’t be missed by anyone who is interested in getting out of the house for a couple of hours and having a good time surrounded by the most considerate and compassionate teenagers anyone can imagine.
This spring’s senior, senior prom is set for the Huntington High School cafeteria on Friday May 6 from 4-6 p.m. There will be food, dancing, favors and lots of conversation. This year’s event will feature a “aloha” theme. Prom-goers are invited to wear tropical attire, if they wish, including Hawaiian shirts, floral dresses and bright clothing.
The annual event is sponsored by the high school’s Grandfriends club, which engages in a substantial amount of fundraising to underwrite the costs of the bash. There is no formal charge for the affair, which is limited to the first 200 people that RSVP by Friday, April 12.
To reserve a seat, contact faculty advisor Suzi Biagi at sbiagi@hufsd.edu or (631) 673-2001. There will be music, hot food and dessert and party favors. Prizes will be awarded and a prom king and queen will be crowned.
Last spring’s event attracted folks of all ages. The crowd had an obviously good time with some even asking for the date of the 2019 prom a year in advance. For the second consecutive year, Salvatore Damasco was crowned the prom king. Maria Quinn Scimeca was named the prom queen. The pair enjoyed a quick spin on the dance floor.
The high school’s large cafeteria will be festively decorated by students for the special occasion on May 10. Not up for dancing? No problem; there will be plenty of folks nearby to chat with, including the Huntington teenagers who comprise the Grandfriends club membership.
This marks the 26th year that Grandfriends is hosting the senior, senior prom. Last year’s event drew a crowd of 136.
The dance is open to any senior citizen in the community. The high school, which is located at the intersection of Oakwood and McKay Roads, is completely handicapped accessible. Interested seniors citizens are encouraged to bring a friend. Those making reservations are asked to provide their name, phone number and the number of guests in their party.
Grandfriends is an intergenerational program in which both senior citizens and teenagers develop an enriched relationship. It also serves to bridge the generation gap. The organization accomplishes its goals through visits to local senior citizen centers and satellite facilities and through various other initiatives. Several dozen students are participating in the club this year.
The club is led by a triumvirate of exceptional teenagers in Alexis Aviles, Angelica Hernandez and Ashlyn Case, who share the title of club president.
Mrs. Biagi and retired high school librarian Camille DeCanio are co-faculty advisors of the group, which also visits nursing homes and assisted living residences. The visits include a variety of activities such as board games, baking, crafts, reading books and magazines, letter writing and just talking, listening and laughing.
The GrandFriends host social events and perform various related community-oriented activities. The grand finale of each year is the senior, senior prom. It traditionally attracts senior citizens from across Long Island.
