Gallery • 15 Photos

Evelyn Shi

Seniors kick off their prom party by dancing on the dance floor.

The New Hyde Park Memorial Class of 2025 celebrated their senior prom on June 3, 2025 at the Garden City Hotel. As one of the final opportunities for seniors to celebrate with one another, prom serves as an exciting and memorable moment for students to create memories with their friends. 

“I thought the venue was really nice. The fact that the school had a pretty photo booth outside, and a free photo opp inside was cool. The hotel was also fancy and the scene felt very prom-like,” senior Deborah Aderibigbe said. 

Senior advisers had arranged for a particularly special photo palooza this year. When the students arrived, they were able to take pictures with their friends and family members at three separate backdrops. There were both professional and student photographers at the event, and all photos were made accessible to the students at the end of the night. 

“For me, the highlight of my prom was the photo booth and being able to snap pictures with all of my friends. I was very grateful they had one there because it makes capturing a fun moment much easier,” senior Samir Bushati said.

During cocktail hour, students were also able to enjoy appetizers and drinks before entering the main ballroom. 

When first seated, the seniors were served their first course, which was a shrimp caesar salad. After about an hour of dancing, they were served their main course, which was lemon chicken francese with a side of rice. 

“I loved cocktail hour a lot, and the rice they served with the entree was really good. I wasn’t that fond of the chicken but overall it was good,” senior Rasandi Fernando said. 

After another hour on the dance floor, seniors lined up for dessert. The final course of the night was a dessert bar allowing for students to build their own ice cream sundaes. Chocolate and vanilla ice cream were offered and some of the toppings included sprinkles, marshmallows, bananas, cherries and hot fudge. 

“The dessert bar was easily the best part of the food,” Bushati said.

As one of the final events for the Class of 2025, prom remains a milestone and very memorable night for many students.

“Overall, I really loved prom. It was so fun to hangout with all my friends and get ready with them. It was a memorable experience,” Fernando said. 

“I’ll most likely remember prom by the venue and the people. I’m so grateful to have such memorable friends and it was easy to make memories when you’re around such great people. Being able to go to Garden City Hotel and spend a few hours there with my friends is an experience I don’t think I’ll forget for a long time,” Bushati said.

“I will remember prom as a once-in-a-lifetime experience with my friends that I hold close to my heart,” senior Omar Abdelhamid said.

“It was me, my friends, the people I love the most, all gathered together looking their best and enjoying themselves,” senior Amaan Issani said. “It’s difficult not to remember such an experience.”