Grandfriends’ Senior-Senior Prom Lifts Spirits

Huntington High School’s Grandfriends club threw a party for more than 100 guests at Sunrise Assisted Living, who came together for a fun time at this year’s senior-senior prom.

The 29th edition of the Grandfriends club’s senior-senior prom was made possible by more than 35 volunteers, including dozens of Huntington High School students. Sunrise residents were joined by many local folks who participate in town senior citizen center programs.

The crowd enjoyed each other’s company along with musicians Rob and Patty Meade, who comprise the group, “Music from the Heart.”

This year’s “Under the Sea” theme featured a photo booth with a cruise ship bow sunset backdrop and lots of fun props with which to pose. Tables were adorned with a centerpiece constructed from a glass globe filled with seashells, delicate flowers and white sand, “all lovingly designed and fashioned by the Grandfriends club members along with 120 silk flower corsages also made by hand,” said Suzi Biagi, who serves as the Grandfriends’ faculty co-advisor along with Lauren Blackburn.

“A surf and turf cuisine was expertly crafted by an amazingly talented culinary team and, of course, the grand finale is always the presentation of prom king and queen,” Ms. Biagi said.

Carolyn Holzbaur was crowned this year’s prom queen with Mark Stevens being named the king.

“The students were fantastic, serving dinner in true catering style; delivering plates and answering to the every whim of the guests,” Ms. Biagi said. A dozen United Amigo club members also came to assist with their club advisor, Rosario Lorenzana.”

“Our club members had the best time,” Ms. Biagi said. Senior Krisanny Rondon said she loved spending time with all the GrandFriends and hearing about their childhoods.

Fellow senior Yuliana Hernandez-Perla said “going to spend time with the seniors at Sunrise and making them smile will be one of my favorite memories here at Huntington. I hope to be able to keep making not just elderly people happy, but also young people as well.”

The Huntington teenagers enjoyed their experience just as much as the senior citizens. “I loved seeing all of the seniors smiling and dancing and having a good time,” a sophomore said. “I love being part of giving them a special night.”

The GrandFriends club is an intergenerational organization that seeks to build relationships between young people and local senior citizens in the area. Throughout the year the club holds special events such as building shadow boxes for new residents, sponsoring a Halloween party complete with costume contest, holiday caroling, a St. Patrick’s Day tea hosted by adorable high school leprechauns and card and letter writing throughout the year.

“This year we will say goodbye to seven graduating seniors who have spent the last four years bringing smiles to faces and tears to eyes,” Ms. Biagi said. “We have a very special group of young people here at Huntington and Lauren and I could not be prouder of them. We will miss them so much, but they have mentored and set an unbelievable example for all the underclassmen that are part of the group.”

The year’s Grandfriends club has been led by Jessica Maixner (president), Caroline McGreevy (vice president) and Yuliana Perla-Hernandez (treasurer).

Next year’s senior-senior prom is slated for May 23, 2025. “Mark your calendars now,” Ms. Biagi said.