Prom is just a week away. Let’s take a minute to get to know the candidates for Prom Queen and King.
Candidates for Prom Queen
Divine Atkins
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
At MHS, I’m involved with theater, newspaper, and I help take pictures for yearbook.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I’m thinking maybe going into psychology or sociology or maybe some sort of graphic design. I want to go to the Modern College of Design or Ball State University
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year
Prom is like a time for me to mingle and just be myself and have more fun than I usually would, doing something that’s outside of my comfort zone. I don’t get out much, so I believe it’s a great opportunity.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
It means to me that I have potential, and I have an opportunity to just really represent the school with kindness and integrity. It’s a chance for me to come out of my shell and be able to interact with more people than I usually would, and make more friends.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
I’m looking forward to just hanging out with my friends, mingling and stepping out of my comfort zone. I’m also looking forward to the limo I’m taking to prom. It has been a longtime dream of mine ever since I was a little girl.
Rheana Early
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I am a part of the varsity girls volleyball team, I manage the varsity boys volleyball team, I am a student-trainer during the winter time, and I am a part of the advanced orchestra.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to attend college; either IU Bloomington or Manchester University for softball. I also plan to major in nursing.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year
I think prom is all about having fun and enjoying the moments with your classmates and your peers and it is also the end of the year so it is something fun to look towards.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
Being on prom court means a lot to me, I love to meet new people and like to make people smile.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
I’m looking forward to getting ready and seeing all of my friends dressed up because we only really see them in school not fully dressed so I’m looking forward to seeing everyone dressed up.
Eva Escobedo
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I’m involved in several activities at Merrillville High School. I am a member of the varsity cheer team, National Honor Society, Spanish Club and Freshman Mentors. I also serve the junior class vice president, which gives me the opportunity to help plan events and support my class.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to attend college to study business. My goal is to eventually start my own real estate business and become an entrepreneur.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year
prom means a lot to me this year because it will be my first year attending prom and I am also running for queen. it’s not just about being on court it about the lasting memories we make for our high school career
What does being on prom court mean to you?
Being a prom court means a lot to me. It’s an honor to be recognized by my classmates and it’s a reminder of the friendships and connections. I’ve built over the years.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
I’m looking forward to getting dressed up, taking pictures and just enjoying a fun night with my friends. It’s one of those moments that you’ll always remember.
Jasmine Mabon
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I was in the Spanish Club my freshman year, I was a part of the MHS band until sophomore or freshman year. I am also a Freshman Mentor, and I did the prayer locker last year and this year.
What are your plans after graduation?
I am a three year grad, I plan on going to college and I might do psychology or I’ll stay home and get my carpentry license and my real estate license.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year
The only thing on the little girl list that I still had was prom court, so I really wanted to do that for my younger self, for the little girl that wanted to always be a princess, who wanted to dress up, wear the crown and everything.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
It means my fairy tale dreams will come true, but it also emphasizes that simply being on court already means you’re a princess without a crown. Princesses are about being responsible, kind, respectful and trusted. I get to be surrounded by other great girls and get to interact with my peers in a new way that shows intentionally.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
I’m looking forward to when it’s over because there is so much pressure, so many things to do, so many things leading up to it, it’s just so many things that are adding a lot of extra pressure.
Mariana Montson
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I’m involved with our school’s Mock Trial team, I just joined the Color Guard team last summer, we are always with the band during football season on the field spinning our flags, and also Advanced choir.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’m planning on going straight into college for nursing and I’m still looking into some colleges to find the one for me in state and out of state .
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year?
To me this year prom is a milestone for me to look back on all the growth and work from freshman year to now to see how far I have come academically and me just growing into my own person. It’s a celebration off everything so far.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
To me it means a lot it’s truly an honor to know that I could be someone who represents the school that a huge honor. Also, to me it means getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things just getting my name out there.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
I’m looking forward to getting ready for prom, the process itself before we even get to the dance. Just having fun with my friend group and my classmates then going out after prom with my friends I’m just excited to have a good time and take lot of pictures and having so many new memories with my friends things that we will always look back on.
Candidates for Prom King
DeMarco Easter
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I try to help around the school as much as possible. I stay after school for newspaper and try to take pictures at sporting events for Yearbook. I’m also an athlete here. I’m a varsity pole vaulter.
What are your plans after graduation?
Next year I hope to go to a college and get a full ride scholarship for pole vault because I really fell in love with the sport.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year?
Prom this year has a bigger meaning to me than anything else because I feel like it’s a staple in my high school career. It’s not only a dance but I feel like a growing up period. It has a bigger meaning. “
What does being on prom court mean to you?
It means a lot actually, I get to represent the school, not only by being on the prom court but showing myself. Showing myself and face around the school and people knowing me around the school. So whenever I help out around anything they know who I am.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
I’m looking forward to the food, the dancing and just having a nice fun time with all of my classmates and just enjoying myself.
Dariyon Ganaway
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I’m involved in tennis and swimming. I am also involved in clubs, including Spanish, Freshmen Mentors, Environmental and Y.E.S./Interact.
What are your plans after graduation?
My plans are to go to Purdue, Fort Wayne while taking a major in business and management and a minor in film.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year?
Going to prom with friends, having fun, making good memories, and knowing that this is not the last time we’ll see each other.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
It means being honored by the faculty members and by the students, and just getting to show who I am and getting to share everything, so you know I can hopefully win.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
The crowning ceremony and mostly seeing friends, dancing, appetizers, and just getting the full experience of what prom is.
Avion Mathews
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
I’m apart of Mock Trial, I’m on varsity for the tennis team and I’m in the French Club.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on going to college to get a underground degree in biochemistry and after that go to med school.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year?
It didn’t have a meaning per say but its cool getting to run for prom king hopefully I make it if I don’t it’s still OK.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
It gives me the opportunity to run against other people.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
Seeing if I make it or not or just enjoying the night because it’s my first prom since I’m a junior.
Darien Wiggins
Tell me about your involvement here at MHS.
My involvement here at MHS is participating in school sports. I play football and baseball. For football, I punt and for baseball, I play in the outfield. My role in those sports is to help my team in any way I can.
What are your plans after graduation?
My plans are to go to college and play college ball. I prefer going out of state to go to college just to experience different scenery. I plan on majoring in computer science since I’ve been around technology my whole life.
Describe the meaning that prom has to you this year?
Prom means having fun. It’s somewhere you go to socialize in a fun, fancy way.
What does being on prom court mean to you?
I didn’t plan on joining at first, but now that I’m in it it’s not as bad as it seems. Being chosen made me feel like I was doing good as a person.
What are you looking forward to about prom?
Dressing up, going out to eat with friends after, and ending the night off at the after party with my friends.
