2025 After-Prom and Graduation Grant Recipients Announced
We are thrilled to share that the winners of our 2025 Post Prom/Grad Grants have been selected! This year, we received over 60 incredible applications, making the decision a challenging one. After a thoughtful and thorough blind voting process, our team worked together to narrow down the finalists to three deserving schools.
We are excited to reveal the schools chosen for this year’s grants. Read more below to learn about the winners and the positive impact these grants will have on their student body!
Tabb High School, Yorktown, VA
In first place, with a grant award of $1000, is Tabb High School in Yorktown, VA. We were so inspired by their dedication to the mission of providing a safe, substance-free event at no cost to their students. Because of the school’s proximity to Langley Air Force base, the student population is 32.5% military-connected— meaning they have one or more parents who are actively serving in the military, retired military, and/or are working in the military or civilian sector. Due to lack of funding, the senior class, along with volunteers, work diligently to fundraise for this event and, because of their hard work, are the only high schools in their county that are able to provide an after-prom event for their high school seniors. Angie B., who is a member of the prom committee, wrote,
“After Prom is a FREE Tabb High School PTSA event occurring at Tabb High School directly following the Senior Prom held May 30-31, 2025. It is a safe, alcohol/ drug-free environment where the students enjoy a variety of activities and food/beverages throughout the night. Generous raffle prizes are displayed in the auditorium, where students can enter the tickets they earn from various games and activities in hopes of winning prizes. Tabb has experienced difficulty bringing in funds, but we have wonderful parent involvement and also volunteers from Langley Air Force base to step in and help. We are hanging on to this traditional “After Prom” party for our seniors, largely because we are a school that values tradition and safety.”
Tabbs’ commitment to providing a safe, substance-free event for their senior class of 257 students has the possibility to inspire the other high schools in the county to host similar events.
Flandreau Public High School, Flandreau, SD
In second place, with a grant amount of $750 is Flandreau Public High School, located in Flandreau, South Dakota. The population of the student body is made up of students from diverse backgrounds and our team could tell the planning committee was dedicated to making the event one that would allow them to come together and celebrate each other. Our team agreed that their application truly showed their dedication to providing a safe, substance-free environment for their students. Some of their goals and objectives for this event are to:
- Provide a safe and supervised environment for students to celebrate after the prom dance.
- Offer a variety of engaging activities that cater to diverse interests.
- Promote positive peer interactions.
- Reduce the likelihood of risky behaviors associated with unsupervised post-prom activities.
- Create a memorable experience to affirm the tradition of a healthy and safe prom season.
They also provided a detailed overview of how they plan to keep the event safe with the help of volunteers, chaperones, and a police presence. The students are in for a fun and exciting night as the committee shared, “Air Madness Trampoline Park offers a variety of activities including Zero Gravity Main Court (which is a matrix of trampolines including a special run for gymnastics and tumbling), Airtime Dunk Courts, Laser Maze, two-story Rock-Climbing Face Off Wall, Climbing Cube, Extreme Foam Pit, Ultimate Dodgeball, King of the Beam, and party room.” Herren Project is inspired by the committee’s dedication to providing a safe, substance-free, and fun event!
Travis Early College High School, Austin, TX
In third place, with a grant award of $500, is Travis Early College High School in Austin, Texas. Travis students come from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and more than half of the students are English Language Learners. Our team was moved by the powerful message written by Senior Class president Karomi C. Their passion and dedication to providing a substance-free event was clear.
“As the Senior Class President at Travis ECHS, I am dedicated to ensuring that my classmates have a memorable and substance-free experience for our Prom in 2025. The theme of this year’s prom is “Masquerade,” creating an elegant, mysterious atmosphere where students can celebrate the end of their high school journey while making lasting memories.”
Karomi spoke of providing clear messaging around the intent to keep the event substance-free through invitations, flyers, posters, and class meetings. They plan to provide transportation for anyone who may need it, as well as substance-free goody bags for all attendees. Karomi also expressed the importance of fundraising for their event, as they are a Title 1 school and may not be able to provide their classmates with a prom without donations. We are happy to be able to support Karomi and everyone at Travis ECHS to ensure they have a fun and safe prom that will make memories that will last a lifetime!
We want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who applied. We understand that the application process can be time-consuming, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of so many schools who are investing time and effort into providing their students with a safe, substance-free environment to celebrate their achievements after graduation and continue the fun beyond prom and graduation.
Everyone here at Herren Project continues to be inspired by the individuals and student leaders who passionately promote and encourage the message of living a healthy, substance-free lifestyle.
To learn more about other scholarships and grants Herren Project offers for youth, check out: https://herrenproject.org/scholarships-grants/
