The Richmond, Texas, Senior Senior Prom was an unforgettable event this year. Around 250 senior citizens walked the red carpet alongside 20 high school seniors for their special day. This 12th edition of the event, conducted at The Lodge center, brought together students from nearby Lamar Consolidated High School and local residents participating in the Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels program.
“You’ve got these 18-year-olds who are dancing with these 70-year-olds. It’s crazy. And they love it,” said Rick Branek, 62, field operations manager with Fort Bend Seniors. “Seeing the young people enjoy being around the old people, to me, that means everything. Everybody loves dancing together, and it’s so cool.”
The prom’s red carpet was lined with “paparazzi” snapping photos while a DJ played a mix of music from 1940s favorites to current Top 40 hits. The event also featured a prom court, with a pair from each of the area’s eight senior centers competing for the titles of prom king and queen. This year’s winners, Leon Witt, 69, and Renee Houston, 65, were given a limo ride home. “It’s magical,” said Carla Ibarra, 37, whose company NRG helps sponsor this and similar events throughout the year, dubbed “Great Gatherings.”
This year’s prom king and queen winners, Leon Witt, 69, and Renee Houston, 65, were given a limo ride home. Photo by NRG
The Senior Senior Prom began in May 2008. Initially, the high school’s prom committee would recycle their decorations to recreate the magic for local senior citizens. The event was canceled starting in 2019 but made a comeback in 2023 thanks to sponsorship from the NRG W.A. Parish Power Plant.
They’re designed to bring the senior citizens together and encourage their socializing and keep them very healthy and active throughout the year. It’s very joyous.”
“You will see these folks, some of them are in their 80s or 90s and they are still dancing way better than some of us,” Ibarra said. “It’s such a wonderful time. They’re making them feel very special.” This year’s prom coincided with the high school’s graduation ceremony. Everyone arrived in their Friday best, with the high schoolers even re-wearing their prom attire, and enjoyed a catered lunch before parting ways. For some senior citizens, “it might be the first prom that they’ve ever attended,” Ibarra noted, highlighting the area’s rural farm community roots.
“Of course there might’ve been a few schools in the area and they might’ve had a prom, but some of the students would not be able to participate because they couldn’t afford it or they just didn’t have the opportunity to do so. For them, this could either transform them back, or be the first time that they get to do something like this.” The event “is a perfect example of how you can respectfully connect to very different generations in a very unique and fun way,” Ibarra added. “Who wouldn’t smile because of that?”
This unique prom demonstrates the power of community and the joy of intergenerational connections, providing cherished memories for both the young and the elderly. Watch below for a look at another prom that was conducted for seniors as this idea begins gaining steam across the country.
Source: People
