On Saturday evening, October 8, Mount Carmel held its annual Homecoming Dance in the Student Commons.  More than 250 couples participated, one of the largest crowds in recent memory.

Students and their dates started showing up to Mount Carmel’s doors at about 7 p.m. The line was out the door with couples attempting to get inside and start the party. Numerous Mount Carmel faculty supported the event as chaperones, including Student Activities Director Patrick McGarry, Principal John Stimler, and Dean of Discipline Padre Benjamin Aguilar.

DJ Mike P, performing at MC for the first time, kept the music pumping as more and more people arrived, crowding the dance floor. Before long, it was nearly impossible for students to weave their way through the tightly knit crowd. It was clear that students really enjoyed the music this year, claiming that is was much better than previous years.

Both Mount Carmel students and their dates from various schools say that they had a great time dancing and listening to the great variety of music, from Taylor Swift to Fetty Wap. Small snacks and refreshments were offered for the students to replenish their energy.

“The dance was great and I got the chance to meet new people and become more outgoing. The dance also gave me an opportunity to further strengthen bonds with friends,” noted junior Kendall Nichols.

It wasn’t just the Mount Carmel students who had a blast, though. Brett Wiseman’s date, a sophomore at Oak Forest High School, remarked, “I had a fun time meeting students from Mount Carmel that I had never talked to before and seeing the school.”

The dance followed Friday’s Homecoming game against DeLaSalle, which Carmel won by a whopping 56-7, setting the upbeat mood for the rest of the weekend.

After over three hours of dancing and music, students finally started leaving the school at around 10:15 p.m. It was clear on students’ faces that they were exhausted from the hours of partying.

For many students, though, the night was not yet over. Many students went on to dinner with their dates, not returning home until much later in the night.