A "Magical" Evening: Worthington Christian Gala

Saturday May 1st was truly a night to remember. Worthington Christian’s juniors and seniors stepped into the ballroom at the Josephinium in Worthington, Ohio, and enjoyed a night filled with laughter, etiquette, and magic for the annual Gala Event.

In weeks prior, the anticipation of many students built quickly as the big day drew near. Many young ladies were asked to attend the masquerade event. Junior Jack Price used a creative idea to ask Shelby Hamrick. “I asked by giving her a bracelet that said ‘Gala 2010’ on it, and she said yes,” Price exclaimed.

Junior Tom Dreyer asked Amy Gibson in a creative way, as well. Gibson told the story: “Every class period I received a single rose with a word taped to it. By the end of the day, it spelled, ‘Would you go to Gala with me? Sincerely, Tom.’ ” Gibson added, “It was a very cute and creative idea, and because of how he asked me, I was really excited to go with him!”

Although most students decided to take the more traditional route and go with a date, others opted for a different experience. Junior Megan Nishizaki decided to go with a group of her friends instead of having to deal with the pressures of a date. Nishizaki commented, “It’s all new for me and very exciting!”

Boys and girls alike were excited for this highly anticipated event. The Student Events Committee worked hard to make sure that everything ran without a glitch. Josh Petrel, a new addition to the Committee, boldly commented, “I was excited for Gala because I was going to look super attractive.”

Preparation for Gala is never easy, but this year the girls did an amazing job. Finding the right dress, getting your hair done, and choosing the right group can be very stressful experiences. However, the Worthington Christian juniors and seniors made it look simple. “Everyone looked really pretty,” senior Alex Myer commented. “The dress selection was amazing.” However, the ladies weren’t the only ones to arrive in style. Senior Beth Julca commented about her date’s attire, “Michael [Williams] looked like a stud.”

As students began arriving, parents waited anxiously outside the Josephinium. Most tried to capture every little moment of their children’s experience on film. The parent reception lasted for a little over one hour before students began to file into the facility to get their seats. Bouquets of roses sat in the middle of every table, and tea lights helped create a special atmosphere. “I thought the place was decorated beautifully,” said senior Jazmine Keels. “It was very elegant.”

The entertainment for the evening started with a brief lesson on proper dining etiquette. Several students did not particularly enjoy this part of the evening. “I didn’t think it was a necessary part of the evening,” fellow writer Raima Forbes stated. “The setting just wasn’t a very appropriate place for it.” Despite the students’ misgivings, this special lesson in etiquette should prove beneficial in the future.

The attendees were next served a catered meal of Chicken Piccata (chicken breast served in a light white wine, lemon and caper butter sauce), string green beans, and red potatoes. Many of the students had mixed reviews concerning the quality of the food. “The food was just okay,” said Nishizaki. “There wasn’t much of a selection.” However, Keels noted that “the chocolate cake and the salad were delicious!”

After dinner, the students watched their classmates attempt hilarious and difficult tasks during the game, Minute to Win It. The required tasks included trying to get all the tissues out of a tissue box, as well as trying to get cotton balls to stick on a nose covered in petroleum jelly. “The Minute to Win It game was a little dumb,” commented senior Bekah Mack. “However, it was definitely entertaining.”

The next part of the evening was magical and by far the most popular. “I thought the best part of Gala was the magician,” said senior Caleb Palumbo. “He had some amazing tricks.” Students watched earnestly as David McCreary, a professional magician, amazed them for almost an hour. By including many of the students in his performance, McCreary grabbed and kept their attention, something that has been almost impossible in years past. Student Events representative Amara Taranto said, “The magician was mind-boggling!”

When the night finally came to an end, young men and women began trickling out of the ballroom. Fellow journalist Raima Forbes said she was surprised by how long she stayed. “My date and I weren’t expecting to stay the whole time, but we did,” Forbes noted. Overall, everyone seemed to have a good time and the feedback was very positive. The 2010 Gala was definitely successful and will be remembered as one of the best Worthington Christian formal events.

[Photos courtesy of Abby Camp and Mrs. Ginger Gibson]