Prom is a night every high schooler remembers, but for New Ulm, the night doesn’t end after the last song ends. Post prom offers a way to keep the good times rolling into the early morning.

Post prom has been a tradition for New Ulm High School for many years. It is intended to offer a safe alternative on prom night instead of big parties. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, the tradition came to a halt. For 3 years, after the dance, prom night ended, and left the prom goers to fend for themselves.

In 2023, a group of parents, led by Heidi Wilker and Jennifer Waloch, decided to bring it back.

The process was very tricky. The first problem was that every parent from before had left the program. Waloch contacted the parents of many students going to the prom to ask if they would volunteer their night to help out. It was a hard gig to sell, since the post-prom runs from 11:30 at night to 3:00 in the morning.

The second problem was that all the vendors and businesses that had donated before had to be approached again to be asked if they could donate. The event is funded 100% by donations and fundraisers, so this was an important step in the process. Local businesses like MN-EIS, Applebee’s, Caribou, and Kwik Trip, among others, sponsored the event. The restaurants donated food to the event, while the rest provided gift cards to serve as prizes for the games set up around the event. Fundraisers were also important. The post prom committee did a tip night at Pizza Ranch, where a percentage of the tips went to the event.

After months of preparation and planning, the day was finally here. At 11:30, many students, now getting out their suits and dresses and in more casual clothes, arrived at the event. Students were occupied by many events set up around the venue. Some of these events were dodgeball, pickleball, casino games, Minute to Win It games, and many others.

The night was a success. Many students left feeling happy with the night, but also tired. Ethan Lieb, a former NUHS student who was at the first post-prom, said, “It was the most fun I’ve had at a school event. I was so tired afterwards, though, I went to bed the second I got home”.

Two years since the first event, Post Prom is still going strong. Many of the same vendors still donate, and many of the events have stuck around. Jennifer Waloch is now the head organizer of the event. She says the biggest struggle is ” finding things that students and their guests will enjoy for activities, prizes, food, etc.”

While the night can be difficult to put on, Waloch and the committee still find the process to be worth it. “The best part is seeing the students and their guests having fun or enjoying the prizes. The thank yous at the end of the night are the best and make it all worth it.”