Flagler County, FL – 2020 was tough. Schools went full on remote, activities and events were completely cancelled, and parents scrambled to make the best of it for their graduating seniors.
Somehow, 2021 hasn’t been much better. Most events were limited, enthusiasm was muted and this year’s graduating class still feels like they’re getting the short end of the stick.
Enter Melodye Lewis.
Coming from a generation where milestones mattered and sayings like ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ weren’t just flippant words uttered, they were launch pads for making things happen, Lewis is a doer.
In 2020, the Flagler County mom was one of those taking action for her local community and started the Flagler County Adopt-a-Senior Facebook page, modeled after the successful one created in Volusia County by Staci Tramont. Seeing this school year track in similar fashion she kept it going with a Flagler County Adopt-a-Senior Class of 2021 page and people have been adopting students from Flagler’s senior class to show their support.
When word came out that prom would be a banquet, sit down style affair for this year’s Flagler Palm Coast High School grads, she sprang into action. Her daughter Abbie, part of the Class of 2021 has been talking about her senior prom for years, and what was offered just wasn’t up to par.
“It’s been very frustrating for her last year and this year to have so many events cancelled, especially prom because last year they lost their junior prom. This is one of the things the kids look forward to their whole high school years,” said Lewis.
“To have that ripped away from them just broke my heart. My daughter was just saying ‘we really need to just do something mom’ so I got together with the Streamline and asked if this was something we could pull off and they were absolutely on board.”
Usually held indoors at the Hilton in Daytona Beach, Lewis came up with another option that met the requirements of keeping it outdoors. Working with the Streamline Hotel, the actual birthplace of NASCAR, she and Abbie created the VIProm.
Restored to its historic glory by Eddie Hennessy, the hotel is a centerpiece along Atlantic Boulevard in Daytona Beach.
With the skyline of the World’s Most Famous Beach as the backdrop, Class of 2021 graduates will be treated to an evening under the stars on May 21st. With a live DJ, pro photographer snapping red carpet photos and hors d’oeuvres made just for the evening’s VIP guests, Lewis is bubbling with excitement at being able to create the magical evening for the kids who’d all but written off this rite of passage.
“From the time they start middle school they hear about senior prom. They’re excited. They’re thinking about what dress they’re going to wear, who their date might be and where they might go to dinner,” she said. “They think about all these things and then COVID. Then you leave your high school years and feel like something was missing.”
Tickets are $50 and cover the cost of the event. A waiver is part of the deal and the venue has even agreed to remove alcohol from sight to ensure it’s a safe and successful event for area seniors. Opening up the event to both Class of 2021and 2020 students in Flagler and Volusia counties, Lewis hopes that those who missed out last year will feel welcome and this year’s class will have a chance to create an evening to remember.
“These kids want to dress up, they want to celebrate all their accomplishments and part of that IS having that prom and being able to say this is my time and I get to shine,” she said.
Captain of the basketball cheer squad, Abbie spent most of her senior year dual enrolled at Daytona State College, so having the opportunity to rejoin her friends at prom was something she was looking forward to doing.
Knowing that they’re adding something back into the lives of others is special for Abbie.
“I am so thankful that we are able to have a prom this year since there wasn’t one last year as well,” shared Abbie.
“Prom is one of the most memorable moments in high school. My mom has played a big part in helping the community and putting together this prom for me and my classmates. I also want to thank the Streamline Hotel for allowing us the opportunity to hold the prom there.”
More information including waiver, ticket purchase and event details can be found at https://ltmorland.wixsite.com/viprom21.
