MHS students organize free dance for seniors
as a community service project
By:Beth Kressel
Stefanie Bocchino, 17, won’t be downloading the latest hits by Chris Aiken or Matchbox Twenty for the senior prom tomorrow. Instead, she’ll be searching for the big band tunes and Frank Sinatra croons of her grandparents’ era.
That’s because the prom, organized by the Manville High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), is for the borough’s senior citizens.
The point of the prom is to give back to the community and also to enter a statewide FBLA community service competition that could lead to a trip to the nationals, explained Nancy Ostaszewski, the FBLA adviser.
"It’s really a thank-you for (the senior citizens) helping (the high school students) with whatever project," she said. "A lot of kids’ grandparents are coming. It’s a good opportunity for the two age-groups to share their cultures."
The response has already been overwhelming with 127 people expected to attend the event, said Mrs. Ostaszewski. The event is free to senior citizens. Food and other donations from local businesses along with money raised by FBLA club members cover all expenses.
So many people are coming, she said, that the venue was changed from the high school cafeteria to the gymnasium.
"Two people called asking if they should wear prom gowns," said Mrs. Ostaszewski, "I told them to dress comfortably. The dress is ‘business casual.’"
FBLA also has received support from local businesses for the event, which has a Winter Wonderland theme. Primo Pizza on Main Street offered discounts on pasta and other food.
Other Main Street businesses, including Wal-Mart, the Dollar Express and Foodtown, provided gift certificates that the students used to purchase decorations and food for the prom. Johnson & Johnson, based in New Brunswick, donated beauty products that will be given out as party favors at the end of the night.
Stefanie and her friend Sarah Ortman, also a high school senior, organized the project although all FBLA members are helping out.
The two girls are no strangers to FBLA competition. Last year, Stefanie and Sarah entered the FBLA’s American Enterprise Project. They interviewed employees from the Meadowlands’ sports complex in East Rutherford to find out how a business is run, Stefanie said. Then they turned their findings into a 30-page report.
When they placed second in the state competition at the end of March, Manville senior citizens and members of other community groups donated money so that the girls could attend the national competition in Dallas.
This prom is one way to say thank-you, said Mrs. Ostaszewski.
And it’s also the project that Stefanie and Sarah will enter in this year’s community service portion of the FBLA competition this year.
After the event, the girls will type up an extensive business report including spreadsheets that detail expenses, said Mrs. Ostaszewski.
"You have no idea how technical it is. It could drive you up the wall," she said about the report that the students will submit to the state branch of the FBLA, based in Mercer County.
But first comes the fun part the party itself.
"We thought, ‘What could we do for the community?’ This is the best thing because there are a lot of old people in town," said Stefanie.