BRITTANY YEAROUT
Assistant News Editor
The theme was “Rodeo Roundup.” And, like every senior prom, there was dancing, food, a DJ, a local band and the crowning of the king and queen. There was even a photo booth that featured a cactus and cowboy background so that some could have a keepsake to remember the night. The only difference is that the night was not a special event for 17 and 18 year-olds, but instead for 70 and 80 year-olds.
The Pepperdine Volunteer Center (PVC) sponsored the “Senior Prom Rodeo Roundup.” At least 76 senior citizens and more than 30 volunteers were present, each spending three to four hours Friday night learning about the past and future plans of those present and dancing the electric slide.
The senior prom event, which has been going on at Pepperdine for at least 17 years, was held at Drescher Campus and was coordinated by juniors Jessica Ernest and Jenna Gonillo.
Gonillo said there was a waiting list for students who wanted to volunteer for the senior prom.
“It is a different way for Pepperdine students to connect with the senior citizens in our community,” Gonillo said. “This is a different environment than going to a nursing home or a senior setting, you are getting them out of their shell. It is a more open setting for different generations to exchange their stories.”
The volunteers were asked to eat dinner, dance and socialize with the senior citizens, who have served as barbers, scientists, teachers and pilots.
Senior Sarah Mitchell, who has been to many other PVC events this year, such as Step Forward Day, Habitat for Humanity, Buying Gifts for Kids Day and L.A. Mission, said the senior prom was interesting and fun because it allowed her to talk to people who were not her age and listen to their perspectives on life.
“Every single time I have gone, I have gone into it thinking, ‘Oh, I will just do it for fun,’ but then I have always gotten more out of it than I thought I would going into it,” Mitchell said. “I had talked to someone or done something that impacted me more than I thought it would.”
There were long-time husbands and wives present, such as Kal and Carroll Klatte, who have been married for 48 years and met at Northwestern University.
“I think it is fabulous that they do this,” Carroll said. “I like the fact that they try to get the community involved. The students are really good about socializing and the food is great. It is a thumbs-up event all the way around.”
Alexa Power, 82, who has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is an extra on the show “Rules of Engagement,” was one of the first energetic senior citizens to boogie on the dance floor.
“I signed up right away for the event,” Power said. “I don’t get out very much and am not very social. I don’t think I ever went to my own prom but I like this theme, it is very informal and relaxing.”
Sylvelin Stein, an 81 year-old who said she is called the miracle patient because of her amazing survival from falling and breaking her neck when “jay” walking, quickly disagreed with Power and said she wasn’t too keen on the cowboy theme.
“I don’t like the theme,” Stein said. “We are seniors, not cowboys. But I guess it is interesting, I watched some cowboy shows when I was a kid, like ‘Roy Rogers.’”
Another couple, Gunter and Ann Hagen, who have been married for 51 years, met on a blind date. Gunter is a retired plasma physicist who developed a Xenon Ion Engine and is a pilot who owns two planes.
Gunter said the event is important because two different generations get together and talk about anything.
“It is interesting to see the interaction between generations,” Gunter said. “We don’t have any children, so it is great to talk to the younger people.”
The senior citizens who attended the prom were from all over the area, including Malibu, Santa Monica and the San Fernando Valley. There were some men and women from the Golden Agers Club, which is affiliated with the Salvation Army. Secretary of the Golden Agers Betty Baines said she has attended at least nine senior proms sponsored by Pepperdine.
“I come because it is a pleasure to see nice, clean-looking kids, not with baggy pants,” Baines said. “It’s good to see that there is a good future ahead of them. They are trying to put themselves through college and working for something. They have goals in mind and want to make a difference in the world.”
04-03-2008
