Classical seniors pose for prom

LYNN – For one night, Lynn Classical High School seniors and their prom dates put aside thoughts of college applications, finals and the impending change coming their ways, and celebrated looking beautiful together at a pre-prom gathering Friday evening.Before seniors stepped into the bright lights of prom 2012 on Friday night, they gathered with friends and family at the Gannon Golf Course in Lynn to take pictures. The school-sponsored event is a tradition that gives the students a safe place to celebrate together.Senior Mackenzie Coppinger, a softball star at the school, pinned a boutonniere of a white rose with blue details on her date, junior Joe Rose, in the packed parking lot outside the golf course. The two had color coordinated their outfits and prom flowers to a vibrant blue.Rose then pulled out a corsage for Coppinger, causing her to blush and giggle.”It’s so fancy,” she said as he slipped it on her wrist.Rose’s mother, Laura Rose, watched and snapped pictures, beaming almost as much as the two dates. She said the pre-prom party is a fun event for parents, made even more enticing by the fact that the students will then hop on a bus that takes them directly to prom.Prom safety, she said, is “very important” for her. Earlier in the day, she met fellow parents who will be hosting a tented party in their backyard for her son and his friends.”They have a bonfire set up and they’ll keep them safe,” she said.But for many of the students, the gathering at Gannon Golf Course was simply a chance for the entire class to spend time together in their final days of high school.”It’s like the last time we’re all going to be together,” said senior Matthew Fowler, as he tied the laces on his smooth black dress shoes, and straightened his silver suit and pink tie. “It’s like one final get together before we separate and go to college.””My thoughts exactly,” said Fowler’s friend, senior Alicia Worthylake, who pinned her pink dress with silver sequined details against her leg, to keep it from brushing on the golf course gravel.Worthylake’s mother, Cindy Worthylake, and grandmother, Ruth Worthylake, stood nearby, chatting with both seniors.Cindy Worthylake said the pre-prom party gives the students and their parents a chance to reminisce about the many years they spent growing up together.”They have gone to school together since the first grade all the way to high school,” she said. “It’s like a big family.”Apparently, almost the entire family showed up to the pre-prom event. The parking lot at Gannon Golf Course filled up within 20 minutes of the event kick off. Parents and students parked on the golf course’s lower level and on neighboring residential streets as golf course workers ferried attendees up a steep hill to the golf course.Girls on the golf course squealed with each load of newly arrived prom attendees, friends hugging friends and exclaiming how beautiful each one looked.”It’s fun just to be with everyone,” said senior Katie Cuozzo, who was wearing a black-and-gold sheath dress. “You get to see everyone before and after.”Her friend, junior Taylor Holey, agreed.”It’s memories for a lifetime,” she said.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].