Prom 2025 Rocked the Castle

The 2025 prom was hosted at Tooth and Nail Winery  though slight disruptions interfered with the prom committee finalizing the venue for prom. Math teacher Kelly Bellew, the advisor of this year’s prom, headed this problem, “We were notified at the end of January that they (Tooth & Nail) were no longer in business. We called 100 different venues and couldn’t find any venues that would host a prom as big as Paso High, and we ended up at the fairgrounds,” Bellew explained. 

The issue was resolved, through the help of a Bearcat parent who notified Bellew that the former venue, now Castle 46, was available for hosting. From her experience, Bellew mentioned how the event went well and received good feedback from students, possibly considering next year’s prom to be hosted at the same location.

 Junior and member of this year’s prom committee, Kingston Anguiano remarked on his experience on the committee,

 ”It was super fun, but it was definitely tough because we had the whole situation with the venue changing. But it was honestly fun figuring that out too, and trying to figure out how we could still get good for everyone.” Anguiano said. 

Beyond the school’s preparations, Bearcats spend time making preparations to glam up for prom in their tuxedos, dresses, makeup, accessories, etc.  A recent 2024 report on prom discovered, “‘Most people can spend anywhere from $150 to over $2,000 on prom alone,” (The Maroon and Gray).

The PRHS prom committee reported selling 530 tickets this year, including having raised $2100 for next year’s prom from the tickets sold.

Highlights from this night of fun included refreshments and snacks upstairs on the castle terrace,  and a photobooth for fun reminiscing on a night to remember. Nearly 50 to 70 students gathered onto the dance floor, swaying to the slow music in pairs, or showing off their best moves to the upbeat music. 

Gallery • 12 Photos

Joseph Taranto

(12) Kenyon Rickson and (12) Natalie Dewhurst

Senior Leticia Velasquez conveyed her experience about her last year of prom, “My favorite part about prom was taking pictures with my friends and dancing with them on the dance floor. I was expecting prom to be more boring, but I feel like all my friends being there really helped us get out of our comfort zones and really enjoy the moment. And definitely dancing with them felt like forever.”

The royal crowning of the senior prom king and queen were Kiana Martinez & Sam Daniels, followed by junior prom king and queen Ethan Rickerd & Audrey Prowse. The evening ended with dancing, friends, and a wonderful night under the stars.