A group of Catholic students in Highbridge have saved their last prom after learning it was at risk of being canceled.
The seniors at All Hallows High School have been brainstorming last-ditch efforts to save their final prom. The school is set to graduate its last class in June and will permanently close after 115 years in Highbridge.
About two weeks before the big night, students received an email that prom was at risk of being canceled due to not enough students registered.
"The email read if we didn't have 10 or more students, the prom would be canceled and even those that could afford it would just get reimbursed," said Emilia Coronado, a parent of All Hallows High School student Ethan Amaya.
Coronado and her son, Ethan Amaya, got to work on a fundraiser to cover the ticket price for classmates who could not afford the tickets. In just one day, they raised over $2,000.
Amaya's classmates also worked to secure a new venue location that would bring ticket costs down from over $200 to $170.
"This whole year has been very, very hard on us and it's been looming over our heads that we are not going to be able to see this school again next year, so for us to end it off on this note and have a great time, that's a memory must of us need," said Amaya.
Kayla Perez, who transferred to All Hallows after her high school St. Barnabus closed last year, says she has been looking forward to the senior prom but didn't know if she could afford to go.
"Before this, it was really hard for me financially to pay the ticket, I just want to say thank you to the family because you made by dream come true," said Perez.
School Principal Nicholas Corrado says roughly 45 students are now registered, but they still need to raise money to cover an additional 40 students.
"The money that was raised is defraying the costs is a game changer for these families who already sacrificed so much to sent their students here," said Corrado.
The school is accepting prom dress donations, as well as suits and any other prom necessities. They can be dropped off at All Hallows High School.