Penn Hills High School prom to take place at Heinz Field
Mar. 31—Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitt Panthers football and major concerts is soon to be home to the Penn Hills High School prom.
School district officials announced the senior celebration would make its return June 17 after being canceled last year due to the pandemic.
"They deserve it," Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio said. "They've been through enough this year. They need some kind of normal. They all said they were going to wear masks, so God bless them."
Health screenings, social distancing and mask wearing will all be part of the safety protocols inside the stadium along Art Rooney Avenue.
The dance will be for seniors only, with no guests from outside the district, and will take place inside the FedEx Great Hall and not on the field.
Senior class president Cassidy Byrnes said they have yet to select a theme but are really excited about the opportunity.
"It was kind of a surprise for us," Byrnes said. "We had discussed doing prom on our own football field, but it wasn't really set in stone yet. We were trying to figure something out with that."
Principal Eric Kostic said a student survey encouraged administrators to "find more and do more" for the graduating class.
"They'll be able to dress up (and) have a night out," he said. "There will be music, lots of photo opportunities."
There are a little more than 300 seniors in Penn Hills.
"Just doing something at our football field might not have been enough for them," senior class co-sponsor Matt Herdman said. "We looked at other venues, and Heinz Field was the perfect place to offer social distancing and a safe environment that's exciting and something different for them.
"It's always been a senior prom. They've been allowed to bring guests in the past, but with covid and the uncertainty of everything we just felt that it was safer (to limit attendance). I think our kids appreciate just being together and having something rather than nothing."
Gateway Clipper has been the traditional home of the Penn Hills prom. That was not going to work this year with the need for social distancing and other safety protocols.
Entertainment and other details for Heinz Field have not been finalized.
Byrnes said her committee plans to get more work done once emotions subside.
"I started to tear up whenever Mr. Herdman announced it to us," she said. "All of my friends who are on the board are super excited and wanted to jump up and down and yell. It was very exciting. ... Whatever we can help with, I know, all of us would be totally down to do it."
Vecchio said the school board just learned about the prom plans March 30 and have yet to vote on any related matters.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@triblive.com or via Twitter .
