Niwot High School students celebrate "Midnight in Manhattan"

Niwot High School held its annual prom on Saturday, April 5, at Denver's Mile High Station. The event was themed "Midnight in Manhattan," and it combined celebration and elegance in its decor and activities. Hundreds of Niwot students took part, with the majority of upperclassmen in attendance.

The celebration kicked off at 8:00 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m., and the dance floor was busy throughout the night.

Niwot counselor and Student Council advisor Leah Messinger explained that finding locations with capacity for 600 people is challenging. "There are very few nearby," she said, "which is often why district schools end up in Denver." Mile High Station event venue, a rustic building originally constructed in 1897, had the capacity and charm for Niwot's prom.

Space certainly proved key at the event, as 580 students attended and over 84 percent of Niwot's upperclassmen came to celebrate.

Bus transportation to and from the event was provided to all students interested. "I was pleased that we were able to have three buses students signed up for since driving to Denver is always a concern," Messinger stated.

Rokbox Entertainment provided music for the entire evening. The DJ primarily featured lively and fast-paced songs, which were interspersed with slow melodies. Carbon dioxide jets were fastened above the music booth, spraying dramatic clouds across the dance floor in time with the music

A beverage bar sat behind the dance floor, where students could stop by for water and soft drinks. Food-cart-themed snack tables offered free treats, including popcorn, cheesecake bites, and cookies.

The two-story venue featured multiple rooms and a loft, and was decorated with elements of New York City.

The ground floor held bustling 42nd Street, with the central dance floor called "Times Square" for the evening.

Wall Street sat above in the loft, which wrapped around an opening that looked down onto the dance floor. The area contained a traditional photo booth and a 360-degree photo booth that captured dynamic videos.

Offset from the main space, draped vines and hanging pigeon cutouts gave the Central Park room a calming and sensory-accessible atmosphere.

Niwot's Student Council was responsible for organizing the event, and juniors took the lead. Messinger said, "They all played an integral role and left an excellent guide for setup....The hardest part was for them to all agree on a theme, but they all utilized their strengths to make the event fantastic and seamless."

Planning and preparation began long before the event took place. "We book venues at least a year in advance but the planning process starts even earlier," Messinger shared.

Many Niwot staff and faculty members supported the event and attended the dance themselves. Campus Supervisors La'Mar West and Andrew Hart and School Resource Officer Eric Underwood helped to manage the event and keep students safe, while Principal Eric Rauschkolb and other administrators and teachers engaged with attendees and danced.

The organization and time committed to the event resulted in a successful event enjoyed by everyone. Messinger reflected, "The night was incredible and went very smoothly. The venue said our students are the best behaved and [most] courteous they've ever worked with."

Once Prom concluded, the excitement continued at "After Prom," hosted by Niwot High School Boosters at Niwot High School. Students were encouraged to stop by the Party-in-Paradise-themed event, which ran from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and provided high schoolers a safe and entertaining way to spend the night after the dance.

After Prom was well attended and featured bright decorations and activities such as bouncy castles, board games, karaoke, food and drink, and a prize drawing event.

Over $5,000 in prizes ranged from Apple Airpods to an inflatable paddle board.

By the end of the event, both students and volunteers were left exhausted but satisfied with an incredible night of music, dancing, mingling, and games.