Prom Proves Bigger Isn't Better

There were no wallflowers at Ocracoke School's 2012 Prom.  Everyone under the age of 20 was on the dance floor with attitude intact. 

By 'everyone' I mean 28 of Ocracoke School's 31 high school students, and their dates, some of whom traveled from distant Raleigh, Hatteras Island, and mainland Hyde County.  

The senior girls proclaimed the dance would have a rave theme, and Deepwater Theater was lit only by neon splatter paint, glow sticks and whirling colored lights.  Although prom was held early, from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., and tourists were strolling around the streets, licking ice cream cones, inside the cozy theater it could have been 3 a.m. in Ibiza.  (Except that nothing inside was being licked, which--I'm told--is not the case in Ibiza.) 

The boys wore jackets and ties and many of the girls opted for shorter, sparkling dresses.  Senior Molly Lovejoy said the girls talked about buying dresses they could wear again and borrowed from each other, proving they've obviously learned something at Ocracoke School.

Mattamuskeet School teacher Julio Morales lent his DJ skills to the party, and from what I heard, should come play Ocracoke parties with a less exclusive guest list. 

Dinner preceded the dancing.  The students selected a menu of favorite delicacies from local restaurants.  They ate pizza from Jason's Restaurant; subs from Howard's Pub; crab beignets from the Back Porch; fried rice and egg rolls from Thai Mooon; chicken tenders from the Pony Island Restaurant; wings from Gaffer's Sports Pub; and cheesecake from the Cafe Atlantic.  Retired teacher Kay Riddick showed her love by baking one of her much-admired chocolate cakes.  

After the dance is over?  "I don't ask what they do," one teacher told me, adding, "And I don't want to know." 

Click here! to see who else was making magical prom night memories that will last forever!