Greensburgsalem

GS’ 2025 Prom | “Meet Me at Midnight”

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by: Theresa Schuetz

GS’ prom 2025 had a theme tailored for students, made by students.  

At the end of last school year, SCA met and started to plan homecoming and prom as well as their themes. The president of SCA, senior Lauryn Swierczynski, helped to pick the theme of “Meet Me at Midnight.”  

The event was held on May 9, starting at 6 pm and ending at 10 pm.  

Teachers and students dine as dinner is served at Stratigos.

Photo by: Emma Helmick

“Me and my other group partners, one of them being Anna Spigarelli, are big Taylor Swift fans,” Swierczynski said. “We thought why not put two and two together and make a subtle Taylor Swift reference while also making the general vision purple and blue.”  

Prom was held at Stratigos this year, just as it has been for years. The banquet facility was recently renovated as well, providing more space for attendees to enjoy the night.  

“Prom is the nice end of the year event for all schools,” physics teacher Christopher Gazze said. “It’s a very prototypical high school event.”  

Everyone who attended voted for prom king and queen out of a list of seniors picked out by the seniors through a form. The students nominated to be prom queen were Sloane Potter, Anna Shevchik, Ksena Spencer, Lauryn Swierczynski, Grace Sybesma and Tymara White. Students nominated for prom king were Logan Dunkerly, Azreal Franklin, Gregory Paravate, Nick Reinhart, Dominic Rosensteel and Keegan Young. 

On each ticket bought for prom there was a spot to vote for prom king and queen. The winner for prom king was Gregory Paravate and the winner for prom queen was Anna Shevchik.  

“I did not expect to win prom queen, but it was a nice surprise to wrap the night up with,” Shevchik said. 

“Meet Me at Midnight” proved to be a fitting theme for an evening that was as magical as it was memorable, marking a highlight in the high school journey for students who attended.  

“Seeing and hanging out with the students in my grade all in one place before graduation was the most memorable part of the night,” Paravate said.  

Promposals

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By: Reese Price 

From handwritten notes to sweet signs, this year’s proposals are just as unforgettable as the night itself. 

Prom tickets were on sale from April 22-25 which means students will be getting asked to go left and right. Students turned in their packets to SCA Advisor Mr. Christopher Gazze’s room last week. Many students in past years have asked their date with promposals.  

“I planned my promposal by getting inspiration from pictures online and getting other people’s opinions,” junior Andrew Lehnhardt said. “Once I had my idea, I bought the supplies I would need, then I went to her house and surprised her.” 

Lehnhardt’s candle-lit promposal.

Photo Courtesy: Andrew Lehnhardt

Promposals are a way for students to ask someone to prom in a memorable way. They often involve signs, gifts or even sometimes setup surprises. Many students will go all out for their promposal to make prom more special for the people going. Asking in this way also makes people excited to go to prom with their date.  

“I used her interest in music to ask her because I knew she would enjoy it,” senior Keegan Young said. 

The way someone asks their date to prom can reflect their personalities or interests. No matter the approach, promposals are a way of creating a meaningful moment for everyone. 

“My favorite promposals were both Mr. GS related,” Mr. Gazze said. “One of them happened on stage where they thought they were a part of the act and then they got asked in that way.” 

For girls, a promposal can be a really special moment. Many girls look forward to seeing the time and energy that they put into asking them. Reactions can be different for everyone, but they’re often seen as a way to make the invitation to prom memorable.  

“I was surprised with a cute promposal,” junior Elora Gridley said. “He gave me flowers as a gift, and I loved it.” 

For many years people have been asking others to prom in this way. With prom just around the corner, the excitement to see classmates promposals is high. With just a few weeks left until the big night, it’s likely that more promposals will pop up at GS. 

“I am excited for prom,” Lehnhardt said. “I think it will be a cool experience.” 

Spring Break Plans

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By: Theresa Schuetz 

GS’ spring break this year was shortened because of this winter’s unfortunate weather, however, that didn’t stop students and staff from enjoying their time off. 

“I’m going to be watching a new show with my family, hang out with my friends and go thrifting,” senior Josselyn Blawas said. 

Josselyn Blawas

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“A lot of the break I’m going to work and do a lot of spring cleaning,” senior Anna Berlingo said. “I’m also going to spend Easter Day with my family.” 

Anna Berlingo

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“My grandkids are coming down from Penn State for Easter so I’m going to eat dinner with them and my son, Mr. Zahorchak is cooking,” Mrs. Joanie Zahorchak said. “Hopefully the weather will be nice, too, so I can do my yard work.”  

Mrs. Joanie Zahorchak

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“I’m going to be spending Easter with my family,” senior Cole Savage said.  

Cole Savage

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“Mostly I’ll be working, but my family is also going to be over so we can get baskets and spend Easter together,” senior Rachel Kuhn said. 

Rachel Kuhn

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“Over Spring Break I’m going to Top Golf for my birthday,” senior Alice Wilkinson said. 

“I’m going to be picking up a lot of shifts with the amount of time I’ll have,” senior Gracie Susick said. 

Gracie Susick and Alice Wilkinson

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“I’m going to be spending quality time with my family and friends over break,” junior Marley Perrone said. 

Marley Perrone

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“Easter Sunday my family and I will be having a big family dinner,” senior Tymara White said. 

Tymara White

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“I’m going out to eat with friends over Easter break in Pittsburgh,” senior Kai Brunot said. 

Seniors Cooper Dann, Kai Brunot and Nick Reinhart

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“Over break I’m going to relax and spend time with family,” junior Henry Weimann said.  

Henry Weimann

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

“Over Easter break I’m going to Charleston, South Carolina with my family to enjoy the nice weather,” senior Grace Sybesma said.  

Grace Sybesma

Photo by: Theresa Schuetz

FCCLA STAR Events Competition

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By: Adison Poole 

Two members of the GS FCCLA club were recently recognized for their contribution to the program and presented with awards at the FCCLA STAR Events Competition. 

Senior Karma Schall was one of the two to receive the award and she spoke of her experience with the program. The other was senior Brenna Kohl, who also received an award at the event.  

Kohl and Schall displaying their certificates at the STAR Event.

Photo Courtesy: Morgan Ferczak

“STAR stands for Students Taking Action and Recognition,” FCCLA advisor Mrs. Morgan Ferczak said. “Students are able to choose a variety of different events that are related to the family and consumer sciences.”  

FCCLA stands for Family Career Community Leaders of America and is made up of hardworking students. The club gains several new members every year.  

“The event I competed in is called the Public Policy Advocate,” Schall said. “This event allows you to pick any public policy you’d like and educate others on the information you’ve learned.”  

Schall has been involved with FCCLA for three years throughout her high school career. She focused her project on the risk of drug use and spoke about overdose to educate others on the topic. 

“For my project I first educated myself on the number of overdose deaths in the U.S. and the things that have been put in place to lower these deaths,” she said.  

Schall explained that her project was an effort to lower deaths related to overdose in her area.  

“I chose to educate others on the Good Samaritan law,” she said. “I did this by going to local businesses to educate them on this law with a flyer that had research as well as local recovery resources.”  

Schall also provided the businesses with Narcan to keep within their facilities in case of an emergency.  

There were several other members who attended the event.

GS’ FCCLA team at the STAR Event.

Photo Courtesy: Morgan Ferczak

“It was a great experience and a good way to get involved,” senior Reagan Sands said. 

Schall is planning to go into a nursing program in the future and is using this award as a step in that direction. She spoke of the work that she has put into the program and mentioned how proud she is of each of her accomplishments. 

“It felt amazing because of the work I put into this project,” Schall said. “My efforts to spread awareness have gone so much farther than I could have imagined.”