Memorial Day weekend is typically a festive one for Northwestern’s graduating class but as with many other celebrations, prom had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prom was scheduled for May 24 at Blue Mountain Ski Resort.

The threat to prom hovered early on in the minds of class officers but it soon became a reality.

“Everything was very much up in the air but a few weeks later, Mr. [Jason] Zimmerman sent out an email to the whole school with the disappointing news,” Class of 2020 President Harrison Bernhard said, two weeks after school closed.

“We were in contact with Blue Mountain several weeks ago and obviously the status of our area in regard to the governor’s phased reopening had not changed.

This prevented any mass gathering of more than 10 people in the red phase and no more than 25 people in the yellow phase,” explained Zimmerman, director of athletics and student activities. “As tough as the decision was to make, we truly had no other choice.

“With a full understanding of the governor’s order, the Pennsylvania Department of Education Guidance, and the need to make a decision so our students and families could properly plan, the decision was made to cancel the prom.”

Blue Mountain Ski Resort said it would refund the down payment in its entirety.

Bernhard said he felt massively disappointed and defeated.

“I was disappointed to not have my senior prom,” Bernhard said.

“In addition, I felt defeated because, as a class officer, I had spent so many weeks and years planning and setting up an event that would not occur.”

Disappointment filtered throughout the senior class as well.

“I did not personally receive any correspondence from other classmates but I heard the reactions on social media,” Bernhard said.

“Many parents and kids seemed upset and frustrated.”

Alternative prom plans are not off the table but there was much that needed to be considered.

“Educators are and have always been planners but this pandemic has prevented us from being proactive and planning since guidance and orders change so rapidly with little to no advanced warning,” Zimmerman said.

That said, Zimmerman remained guardedly optimistic about several possibilities for staging a prom for this class.

“Would we consider a version of the prom at a later date in let’s say our high school gym? Absolutely” he said, “If restrictions are lifted enough and if there is enough interest.

“Would we consider something in and around Homecoming weekend this fall? Absolutely, again if restrictions are lifted enough and if there would be interest.”

Large social gatherings pose safety issues as well.

“Traditionally, we have had upward of 300-350 students attending prom, so restrictions will need to be lifted significantly,” Zimmerman said.

Finally, there are financial concerns that need to be considered.

“Let’s also remember this pandemic has taken a major financial toll on some of our community members,” Zimmerman said. “We need to be sensitive to that in whatever we may plan for the future, making sure it is affordable to all so that all who wish to participate, can.”