Luxury floor-length dresses and tuxedos cleared the walkway as junior and senior prom court nominees were announced to the stage. The audience cheered, clapped and screamed awaiting the coronation of the 2024 prom king and queen. 

On Apr. 27, juniors and seniors attended prom at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel where they ate dinner, danced and the seniors enjoyed their last high school dance with guests and friends they might not see for a while as they move on to their separate paths. 

Prom King 

On stage, senior Lincoln Atkinson was crowned and announced the class of 2024 prom king. 

“It was funny how [senior class principal Dr. Mario] Pupillo didn’t have any suspense, unlike [principal Dr. John] McCabe. Pupillo does that to ensure that the moment is truly to the crowned and is all about them. I really appreciate [that] from him,” Atkinson said. 

Atkinson’s father, who attended Parkway South High, didn’t attend either of his high school proms, claiming that he was ‘too cool.’ However, Lincoln thought it would be cool to start a new tradition in his family. 

“Enough people nominated me; I was emailed asking if I’d like to accept the nomination, and [I] said yes. Then I heard from a bunch of my friends that they voted for me, [so] I thought I had a shot at winning. It would have been fun to have that on my record,” Atkinson said. “I was a lot more nervous than I should have been; I just made sure to keep my composure and wait to see who [would be] crowned.” 

During homecoming season, Atkinson had originally been nominated for homecoming court where he was announced homecoming king at the fall pep rally. 

“I thought that since I won homecoming king, I had a shot at prom king. So, knowing that I won both is a really good feeling,” Atkinson said. 

Ending his final dance with a crown, Atkinson feels he has something to look back on and remind him of his senior prom. 

“[The feeling of winning felt] good. It’ll be a fun thing to show to people later on in life and to represent how much that night meant to me,” Atkinson said.

Prom Queen 

On stage, senior Tristen Banks was crowned and announced as the class of 2024 prom queen. 

“The process was honestly smooth. I posted a lot on social media and told people around [the] school and in class to vote for me, but I didn’t make any posters or anything, just lots of socializing,” Banks said.  “I was so nervous. I really didn’t think I was going to win. So many thoughts were going through my mind on that stage and all those people looking at me, I didn’t know what to think but how crazy it would be if I won.” 

However, Banks didn’t feel confident about the outcome. 

“I am an African-American female at a predominantly white school, so I was thinking what are the odds especially with this being my senior year; it was a win or lose situation. I don’t know why I ran for prom queen, I just thought I’d give it a try,” Banks said. “I know a lot of people around the school and I’m a really nice person.”

In the Banks family, running for prom queen has been a tradition. Banks’ mom was on prom court back when she attended Parkway West, but Banks was the first in her family to win prom queen. 

“It felt amazing after being crowned; I felt that anything [was] possible. I called my mom so fast and I started crying because from my standpoint I did not think I was going to win, especially [because of] the other people I was going against. I had my thoughts but [I] felt honored, especially as an African-American female, being crowned prom queen was one of the best feelings in the world,” Banks said. 

For Banks, prom wasn’t just a dance and a celebration for prom king and queen, but an ever-lasting memory that she’ll cherish. 

“This memory will carry on with me for a long time and will hold a special place in my heart. It’s one of the happiest moments of my life and I learned that a little faith can go a long way. I couldn’t have asked for a better prom and sharing that moment with everyone,” Banks said.