On Saturday, dozens of students, dressed in suits and floor length dresses and at least one ball gown, piled into yellow school buses to attend a party that commemorated the last four years.
If that sounds like senior prom, it’s not a coincidence. Northwestern University’s Senior Formal was also an event designed for students to reflect on and celebrate their years in university — and the school buses were just the cherry on top.
And for School of Comm senior Maria Katsogridakis, this formal was an upgrade.
Maria Katsogridakis: Northwestern formal, for me, is a redo of prom when we’re older and more mature and more fun.
The formal took place at Artifact Events, an event venue in Ravenswood, Chicago. Attendees received two free drink tickets and could choose from a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
For Weinberg senior Raquel Weinstein and SESP senior Isabel Yi, senior formal was about being able to hang out with the friends they had made in college.
Raquel Weinstein: For me, senior formal is just about having fun with my friends.
Isabel Yi: senior formal for me is getting dressed up with my friends.
At Artifact Events, seniors enjoyed food and danced to songs that ranged from throwback anthems to recent, pop hits.
McCormick seniors Alex Olechowski and Hector Ontiveros echoed the sentiment, saying that senior formal was a moment to relax, as well as a time to reflect back on the time they had shared with their fellow classmates.
Alex Olechowski: this is a time to let loose
Hector Ontiveros: Senior formal is a chance to have fun with my best friends and cap off the four years of college.
Whether formal brought up past memories or was a chance to create new ones, for the students who attended, it was hopefully a night to remember.
For WNUR News, I’m Mika Ellison.
Music: Video of senior formal taken by Alijah Hill
