By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- With the Niles High School prom coming up this weekend, the prom committee will finally get to see its many decisions put into action.
The prom will take place from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the South Bend Century Center, 120 S. St. Joseph in South Bend, Ind. on Friday night.
The committee began meeting to make plans for this year's prom as far back as November and have been meeting a couple of times a month ever since.
She said the small group of students are responsible for a number of decisions including setting the date, booking a DJ and photographer, selecting the colors, choosing the gifts and centerpiece arrangements, decorating the hall and cleaning up afterward.
It has been a Niles High School tradition for the school's juniors to put on the prom for the seniors, so the committee of about 20 students is entirely made up of juniors.
Ticket sales began last week and with an early bird price of $25 per person or $40 per couple, a majority of the students purchased their tickets last week. This week's price is $30 per person and $60 per couple.
Rinehart, who is in her first year of overseeing the prom, said the committee sold 305 tickets in the first week and about 15 so far this week.
She expects to have at least 350 students in attendance at Friday night's prom.
The theme of this year's prom is "Wonderful Tonight," which was also voted to be the prom's official song (Eric Clapton).
The committee selected silver, black and purple as this year's colors and the prom gifts are a picture frame and a gel candle.
The prom king and queen will be voted on in English classes on Wednesday and Thursday with the results being held by Rinehart until Friday at 10 p.m.
Rinehart said prom is a significant time for high school students and without a doubt the most well attended high school dance.
She said the fact that students get all dressed up for such an elegant night often translates to them being on their best behavior.