It's an 'International Affair' for Rockville High School Seniors

It's not unusual for a prom date to travel from a neighboring town or even a neighboring state to accompany a senior to his or her prom.

But one prom-goer takes the award for the longest distance traveled to attend the Rockville High School Senior Prom on May 27 – California high school senior Payton Burke flew in to accompany Jacob Miceli to his senior prom. Miceli is a classmate and friend of Burke's cousin, RHS senior Courtney Lyons.

“I took the red-eye last night at 11 p.m. from San Francisco and got in at 9 a.m. in Hartford,” said Burke, who admitted to a catnap on her cousin's couch pre-prom. “I'm running on adrenaline.”

It's a trade-off for the cousins, as Lyons flew out to California to attend Burke's Winter Ball to accompany one of Burke's friends.

“We did tradesies,” Lyons said.

Before Burke could be whisked off to the prom, the first stop was The Garden Barn in Vernon, which served as a beautiful backdrop for pre-prom photos and a great gathering place for family and friends to see the array of gorgeous gowns and dashing tuxedos.

Dressed in an eye-catching tuxedo, Rockville senior Steven Apicello brought a date from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, Dina Lasso. Dina didn't know anyone except Steven attending the prom, but she wasn't nervous.

“I've done it before,” Lasso said about attending other proms.

“I'm ready to show her off,” said Apicello.

Senior Jillian Eitelman didn't want to miss her senior prom – even if it meant going stag. So she did just that – and dazzled in her black gown with exquisite bead detailing on the front and back of the gown. Eitelman's mom watched as her daughter took photos with friends and thought of everything that is ahead for Jillian, who will be attending Babson College in the fall to study international finance and forensic accounting.

Asked how she felt about her daughter attending her final prom, Diane Eitelman said it's what's beyond May 27 that she worries about.

“It's college that's going to be upsetting,” Diane said. “This is old hat – she went to the junior prom.”

But Diane knows Babson isn't all that far away, and she's sure Jillian will come home to visit – and do laundry.

The prom theme was “International Affair” and was held at Chez Josef in Agawam, Mass. The prom celebration was multicultural – with a number of food stations to satisfy one's appetite.