Inwood Academy Celebrates Prom with TLC's 'Say Yes to the Prom'

Inwood Academy won the prom in a contest hosted by TLC and 'Seventeen' magazine.

By Caitlin Sawicki February 23, 2018

Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School hosted its all-expenses paid prom night at Current at Chelsea Piers on Feb. 15, courtesy of TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom initiative.

As the winners of TLC’s Win a Dream Prom For Your School contest (in partnership with Seventeen magazine), students from the Washington Heights-based school previously received a complimentary shopping spree on Jan. 25 to prepare for their big day.

“This morning [about 9:00 a.m.] the trucks and party planning people came in and set everything up,” said Adria Alpert Romm, chief human resources and global diversity officer of Discovery Communications, of the venue preparation. “We had it all designed ahead of time. We talked to the school and wanted to know what they wanted in their prom.”

Monte Durham of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta was also in attendance for Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School’s prom night, wearing a custom-designed jacket from Macy’s.

“This is kind of what we’ve been waiting for, for quite a while,” Durham said of the event. “Inwood Academy wins, and then they come in, and then we jack them up for prom, so they get all of those beautiful dresses, tuxedos, accessories…but tonight, we’re going to see them actually dressed for prom.”

Alpert Romm’s predictions about the students not knowing how fantastic the venue was going to look were correct. Upon their Hollywood red-carpet style arrival, students— wearing their Macy’s gowns and tuxedos from the shopping spree—were amazed at the way Current was transformed for their special night.

“It [exceeded] my expectations,” said Fabian Garcia, 17. “Looking at the place for the first time is just so incredible. It’s breathtaking.”

“I wasn’t expecting all of this… this is really weird because I’m not used to having a lot of places with big stuff,” added Sebastian Garcia, 17, in regard to the attention Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School was receiving. “But it’s really good, I think.”

Students had a fun-filled night of dancing, dinner, and giveaways. They also enjoyed a chocolate fountain, a smoothie bar, a formal photo station, and a fun photo booth.

Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School Principal Christina Reyes was “very excited” for her students. “It’s like, what we couldn’t do for them is being done for them, and it’s what we would have done if we had the money to do it,” she said.

Student Marifer Santos, 17, was almost at a loss for words when asked about her thoughts of the night, from her “unplanned” white and flowy dress choice, to the setup, up to the media coverage.

“Even though I knew that it was TLC doing it all, I didn’t expect this extravagant, New York City type of lifestyle party, and I love it so much,” Santos said. She added that it felt “legendary” to be a part of Inwood Academy’s first-ever senior prom and thinks it will pave the way for future seniors to fundraise for their prom to make it just as special.

Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School’s winter prom marks the second stop for the Say Yes to the Prom tour. Other stops will include Miami, FL; Tampa, FL; Houston, TX; Knoxville, TN; and Silver Spring, MD.

See more of Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School’s experience during the one-hour special of Say Yes to the Prom, which will air March 24 at 9pm on TLC.