If prom is just a dance, then Salem Community High School must have redefined the meaning of the word. Because here, prom isn’t just a night of glitz and glam—it’s a deeply rooted tradition, a community-wide event, and a spectacle of elegance, performance, and legacy.

For Greta Motch, Allison West, Kiley Vieira, and Lynnsey Heinzmann, prom isn’t just something they attend. It’s something they grow up watching, anticipating, and, for some, even training for.

If you’ve never experienced Salem Community High School’s prom, you might not understand its scale or significance. Sure, every school has a dance. But how many have a formally choreographed ballroom performance?

How many have name bearers—tiny second graders who play an integral role in announcing the prom king and queen?

How many have alumni who remember the event so vividly that they still return to watch, decades later?

"My grandma was on prom court her junior and senior year," Greta shares, beaming with pride. "So for me to be part of this tradition, it just feels special. Like I’m continuing something bigger than myself."

For Allison, the connection is just as personal.

"I was on prom court both my junior and senior year, and now I get to pour that same excitement into today’s students," she says. "I work on the prom decorating committee now, so it’s come full circle."

Earning a Place on Prom Court

Unlike most high schools, where prom royalty is often chosen with little fanfare, Salem Community High School makes it an honor to be earned.

It starts with petitions, where juniors and seniors must gather signatures from classmates. From there, it’s up to the student body to vote on the final court—five juniors and five seniors, boys and girls.

"It’s really exciting because you don’t know where you’ll be when you hear your name announced," Kiley explains. "I was in study hall last year when I found out. This year, I was in the counselor’s office."

The moment the names are called, it’s a school-wide event, broadcast over the intercom by Principal John Boles.

"You could be anywhere—the bathroom, a classroom, or walking down the hall," Allison laughs. "It makes it so much more exciting because you don’t know where you’ll be when you hear your name."

The Crown, The Bow, and The Ballroom Dance

At most schools, prom is an evening of dancing and dinner—but at Salem Community High School, it’s a performance, a tradition, and an art.

Each prom court member learns a formal ballroom dance that they perform in front of a packed gymnasium of family, friends, and community members.

And the bow? It’s not just a casual nod—it’s an art form.

"Other schools do bows, but ours? Ours are the best," Lynnsey declares.

But there’s a twist: seniors don’t know who they’ll be paired with on prom night.

"We practice with different partners because we don’t find out who the king and queen are until that very moment," Greta explains. "So you have to be ready to dance with anyone. No pressure, right?"

The prom king and queen then perform a special solo dance, a moment of elegance and celebration.

A Special Evening for the Entire Community

Prom night at Salem Community High School isn’t just for students. Members of the community often turn out to watch.

Students arrive in style, making grand entrances in everything from horse-drawn carriages to convertible sports cars—and in one particularly unforgettable moment, even a boat towed by a truck.

Outside, a roped-off walkway and bleachers create a red carpet atmosphere, where community members cheer on students like local celebrities.

"It’s so much more than just a dance," Kiley reflects. "It’s something that connects us to the past, to the school, and to each other."

And that’s why this tradition endures.

Because long after the dresses are stored away and the dance floor is empty, the memories of Salem Community High School’s prom live on—not just in photos, but in the stories, the legacy, and the hearts of those who were part of it. Sharing it with the next-up generation of Salemites.