Students at Shadow Ridge High School have recently brought a creative twist to prom season by organizing a staff prom court competition. The event added excitement to the senior assembly, where Mr. Bedingfield and Mrs. Turner were crowned prom king and queen, and the crowd went wild.
This unique event wasn’t just about fun though. It was about fundraising. Each candidate was challenged to raise money for a charity of their choice. The staff members who collected the most donations by April 25, 2025, at 7:10 a.m. would win the crown and the bragging rights that came with it. All proceeds went to the candidate-chosen charities, giving the competition a meaningful purpose.
“I think this went very well, I want to do it again for next year’s homecoming,” suggested Mrs. Coyle, the Student Council Adviser.
The process behind the event was thoughtful and well organized. Every day, Student Council members, Luke Nielsen, Piper Stewart, and Miriam Thompson collected money from the candidates and delivered it to the Student Council room. There it was counted and handed over to the banker before being deposited into the student treasury for donation.
Several students played key roles in bringing the staff prom court to life. Stewart made the sashes and crown, helped collect donations, and produced a video to explain how to donate. That video was posted on the school’s Instagram page and helped drive participation. Nielsen served as the project’s lead organizer, keeping track of donations through a shared spreadsheet, coordinating with candidates via email, and announcing the winners at the assembly. Thompson contributed by helping collect money after school. Although no longer a student at Shadow Ridge, a junior, Kylie Walker was credited with the idea during the first semester while she was still attending school.
The candidates included Mr. Bedingfield, Shadow’s AP Psychology teacher; Mrs. McEnaney, the physical education teacher; Mrs. Turner, the assistant principal; Mrs. Hartley, the theatre teacher; and Mr. Hartley, the band director (notably given 100 pennies by a student);
“We counted every single penny out only to discover that our school banker possesses a coin counter,” said Stewart.
Mr. Bedingfield selected the National Alliance on Mental Illness (N.A.M.I.) as his charity, while Mrs. Turner chose Child Haven, an organization that supports children in crisis. When the competition was over, the event had raised nearly $900.
“It was insane, like seriously insane! Once the assembly was over I had to call Kylie to give her the good news,” said Nielsen.
Shadow Ridge’s staff prom court was more than just a fun addition to prom week. It was also a heartwarming example of community spirit, student led projects, and giving back.
