Middendorf and Mehrer are CHS Prom king and queen

<span>CHESTER - Saturday was Chester High School's Prom, which had a theme of "Arabian Nights," and new royalty for the coming year were announced.</span>

<span>The CHS king and queen were crowned during the coronation event, with Drake Middendorf and Kara Mehrer honored with the titles.</span>

<span>This year may have been a first for CHS, as Middendorf and Mehrer were crowned as 2014 Prom prince and princess a year ago. The duo also happen to be boyfriend and girlfriend.</span>

<span>The 2015 maid of honor was Mallory Westerman and the runner-up for king was Issiac Wingerter. Other members of the king and queen court included seniors Hunter Howie and Megan Stewart; Justin Bert and McKenzi Rucker; and Liam Canady and Sarah Liefer.</span>

<span>The 2015 Prom prince and princess were Jason Schwartz and Alyse Bollman. Other members of the prince and princess court included Noah Franklin and Anna Cole; and Jordan Berner and Jaclyn Colvis.</span>

<span>The Pages were Jack Heffernan and Jessica Stumpe. They are the children of Joanie and Mike Heffernan and Jenny and Scott Stumpe.</span>

<span>The Prom was organized, directed and managed by the Junior Class of 2016. Class sponsors Linda Sward and Erin Belton served as primary coordinators for the event and members of the class carried out the various functions of planning, decorating and cleaning up after the event.</span>

<span>Conducting the coronation ceremony were retiring 2014 Prom king and queen Nick Gross and Maribeth Lawrence. CHS teacher and boys basketball coach Brad Norman served as master of ceremonies.</span>

<span>As Norman called their names, Promenade participants began making their way down the stairs from the library to the gym floor where they walked across the floor via a special pathway to an archway. </span>

<span>Once at the archway, participants stopped and paused as Norman read a brief biography of each participant.</span>

<span>Prior to the announcement of the Prom royalty, Norman welcomed Retiring King and Queen Nick Gross and Maribeth Lawrence, who were accompanied by Pages Heffernan and Stumpe to center court and an opportunity to be introduced.</span>

<span>After pictures, CHS Principal Tim Keefe announced that it was time for the traditional King and Queen's "First Dance."</span>

<span>Steve Colonel, CHS band and choral director, served as the official keeper of the music. A new feature of this year's Prom was having the music provided in-house by CHS teachers and staff.</span>

<span>This money-saving technique cut out the cost of paying for a professional D.J. and allowed students to pick their own music for Prom.</span>