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On Friday, Feb. 27, one of WJ’s most popular events returned as a part of its annual Pennies for Patients (P4P) fundraiser and as the final Pennies for Patients event in February. Glo featured talented student DJs, eye-catching lights, excellent music and fun beach balls, and according to SGA president Justin New, it raised $10,000 in ticket sales for Pennies for Patients, which lasts throughout the month of February.
A total of 500 tickets were sold at lunch from Feb. 17 to Feb. 25 for $20 each. On several occasions the line to buy tickets extended almost all the way to the doors of the main office. When students bought their tickets, they received a small piece of paper that provided general information about the dance as well as a neon green, glow-in-the-dark wristband with the words “WJ Glo” opposite the year “2015” imprinted on it. In a twist on an old tradition, the wristbands served as the tickets to gain access to the dance.
In the past, t-shirts promoting Glo have been advertised and distributed by the leadership class, while the Student Government Association (SGA) was in charge of designing the t-shirt and organizing the sales. Senior and SGA secretary Kassidi Baldwin said that this year, the t-shirt was more general and not specifically designed for Glo. However, it was still well-suited to the spirit of the event with its bright colors, and was designed by senior Katie Spak.
Glo was originally incorporated into Pennies for Patients by the SGA in the 2012-2013 school year. According to Baldwin, when that year’s SGA first proposed the dance,school administrators were initially hesitant because of the stigma associated with the electronic music scene and raves, which were the original inspiration for Glo.
“We were able to encourage [administration that] it’ll be a good experience, and it’s an environment that we can bring in that culture without compromising the students’ safety,” Baldwin said. “But it’s definitely been….successful. Now that it’s happened twice we can definitely say that it’s one of our events that’s more popular and… [we] always encourage kids to make good decisions but I think that they usually do.”
Early in the afternoon before Glo, senior and SGA president Justin New posted in a Facebook group for WJ students about the security at the dance.
“[We have] been told that security and cops are being ramped up this year. Do yourself a favor and don’t drink before this. You’ll be putting yourself in a majorly compromising situation,” New said.
Although police officers and security officers were plainly visible at the event, the presence of responsible adults did not seem to put a damper on student enjoyment. Many appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely, dancing around the half of the gym that was reserved for Glo and playing with several beach balls.
“[Glo is] a lot of fun. I think the part that I enjoy the most when I go is just being with everyone that I see day in and day out, [because] I hang out with my friends after school and on the weekends but I really don’t see everyone in my grade,” senior and SGA treasurer Teddy Manogue said.
Junior Paige Sheehan was also very excited for Glo, and had gone before as both a freshman and a sophomore. Sheehan said she enjoyed it more than the homecoming dance held each year in the fall.
“[I am most excited about] going with friends and getting ready together,” said Sheehan.
Sheehan added that one reason she wanted to go to Glo was to support the school, and sophomore Rohan Karim was also looking forward to Glo for similar reasons.
“I think it’s great that you can…pay to have fun and the money [goes] to a good cause,” Karim said.
The funds raised from Glo will go towards WJ’s overall donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and will be used to aid cancer research. Given how brightly the students were Glo-ing at the event, it seems that Glo has become a much-enjoyed fixture in the Pennies for Patients fundraiser, and will remain as an emblem of P4P for countless years to come.
