StargateGirl
04-29-04, 07:26 PM
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=...id=183019&rfi=6 (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11409469&BRD=1572&PAG=461&dept_id=183019&rfi=6)
By: Brittanie Hoofard, Villager staff
April 29, 2004
<span style="font-family:Times">Forget her dream prom. Lauren Stipp has made senior prom a memorable night for her whole school.
The 17-year-old Woodlands High School senior is the grand prize winner of the Seventeen magazine and JC Penney's "Rock Your Prom" contest. What does she get? Oh, just a serenade by "Newlywed" star and former 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey. Lachey, also known as Mr. Jessica Simpson, will perform for about 45 minutes at TWHS senior prom May 15.
Lachey and wife Simpson could be considered the hottest couple in Hollywood following the blow-out success of their MTV reality series, which chronicles their first year of marriage. Previously, Lachey and the oh-so-blonde Simpson both gained marginal fame as pop musicians, but their marriage, TV show, and Simpson's decision to remain a virgin until after marriage has boosted the stars' status.
The contest, now in its fourth year, is a joint effort by JC Penney's and the popular teen magazine. Previous winners have been treated to prom performances by bands such as Lifehouse and LFO, but this is the first year a star as big as Lachey will participate in the event.
Seventeen merchandising editor Kristi D'Aliso said timing was just right for the magazine and Stipp. Lachey signed on for the promotion last year, just before "Newlyweds" became the hit it now is.
"We just got him at the right time," she said. "(Now) they are all over the place."
Stipp was one of about 80,000 people who entered the contest through a random drawing of forms available both in the magazine and in JC Penney's stores, D'Aliso said. There were also 10 first-place winners who will receive prom dresses from JC Penney's.
In addition to Lachey's performance, which will include a personal serenade to Stipp, the teen won $2,500 for her school's prom, a makeover, a limousine for her, her boyfriend and friends and her choice of any prom dress at JC Penney's.
Seventeen decided to surprise the school, and Stipp, by making the announcement during one of the senior cl[arse]es weekly enrichment [arse]emblies. The [arse]emblies are taking place while the junior cl[arse] prepares for TAKS tests.
D'Aliso flew to The Woodlands with a personal videotaped message from Lachey to Stipp and the school announced the prize. At the end of the regular [arse]embly, D'Aliso took the stage to tell the cl[arse] the good news.
"The only person that knew was the principal and the winner's mother," D'Aliso said. "When the announcement was made, it was complete and utter chaos."
Stipp said she knew "something was up" because of rumors she'd heard in the hall that the school was a semi-finalist. Still, the actual announcement was exciting.
"Everyone was screaming," she said of the [arse]embly. "You couldn't hear anything. Right afterward, me, my boyfriend and my friend took the video home to watch it, and it was kind of exciting hearing him say my name."
TWHS Principal Gregg Colshen admitted that, before the school won the contest, he had no idea who Lachey or Simpson was. When he found out the school was a semi-finalist in the contest, he decided to do some research.
"I did watch their variety hour," he said, referring to the prime-time network show that aired earlier this month.
Colshen said once it was announced the school had won the contest, the reaction was huge.
"Based upon the kids' reaction, everybody else knew who he was," he said.
Colshen joked that Lachey's performance has increased his own popularity at the school.
"I've had a lot of especially young ladies come up and think I have connections now, asking me if they can meet Nick Lachey," he said.
As if having cable TV's biggest star perform at your senior prom wasn't enough, TWHS is already going all out for the event. The senior cl[arse] is large, which requires the school to stage the prom at a venue large enough to accommodate it. This year's prom will take place at the Adam's Mark Hotel on Westheimer in Houston. The hotel's ballroom costs $30,000 to reserve.
Plus, there's all manner of decadent décor, from a gazebo to chocolate fountains and tons of greenery and petal-shooting cannons.
Tickets to the prom are free for students who pay senior cl[arse] dues of $100, which cover other events for seniors as well. Guest tickets are $50 each.
Colshen said the school will have to make special accommodations for Lachey, including moving the food to make room for his stage and taking into account the media coverage the event will likely draw.
In addition, the school and its students are concerned about security issues and other teens "crashing" the event.
Colshen said the school has doubled its regular security detail for the night. Lachey will also provide his own security, as will Seventeen and the hotel.
Stipp says now, when she walks through the halls at school, people chant "Nick Lachey, Nick Lachey" at her. It gets a little tiresome, but she's still glad for the notoriety the contest has brought her school.
The night of the prom, Stipp, her boyfriend and about 20 more friends will go to The Palm for dinner, take the limo to the prom, then end the night at a Lake Conroe lake house.
She said she's still not sure why she entered the contest, other than "It looked like a very good prize," and while she's not a huge Lachey fan, what's most important to her is the lasting impression this one night will make on her fellow students.
"I get to make the prom different for everyone," she said. "I get to make it memorable."
</span>
©The Villager 2004
By: Brittanie Hoofard, Villager staff
April 29, 2004
<span style="font-family:Times">Forget her dream prom. Lauren Stipp has made senior prom a memorable night for her whole school.
The 17-year-old Woodlands High School senior is the grand prize winner of the Seventeen magazine and JC Penney's "Rock Your Prom" contest. What does she get? Oh, just a serenade by "Newlywed" star and former 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey. Lachey, also known as Mr. Jessica Simpson, will perform for about 45 minutes at TWHS senior prom May 15.
Lachey and wife Simpson could be considered the hottest couple in Hollywood following the blow-out success of their MTV reality series, which chronicles their first year of marriage. Previously, Lachey and the oh-so-blonde Simpson both gained marginal fame as pop musicians, but their marriage, TV show, and Simpson's decision to remain a virgin until after marriage has boosted the stars' status.
The contest, now in its fourth year, is a joint effort by JC Penney's and the popular teen magazine. Previous winners have been treated to prom performances by bands such as Lifehouse and LFO, but this is the first year a star as big as Lachey will participate in the event.
Seventeen merchandising editor Kristi D'Aliso said timing was just right for the magazine and Stipp. Lachey signed on for the promotion last year, just before "Newlyweds" became the hit it now is.
"We just got him at the right time," she said. "(Now) they are all over the place."
Stipp was one of about 80,000 people who entered the contest through a random drawing of forms available both in the magazine and in JC Penney's stores, D'Aliso said. There were also 10 first-place winners who will receive prom dresses from JC Penney's.
In addition to Lachey's performance, which will include a personal serenade to Stipp, the teen won $2,500 for her school's prom, a makeover, a limousine for her, her boyfriend and friends and her choice of any prom dress at JC Penney's.
Seventeen decided to surprise the school, and Stipp, by making the announcement during one of the senior cl[arse]es weekly enrichment [arse]emblies. The [arse]emblies are taking place while the junior cl[arse] prepares for TAKS tests.
D'Aliso flew to The Woodlands with a personal videotaped message from Lachey to Stipp and the school announced the prize. At the end of the regular [arse]embly, D'Aliso took the stage to tell the cl[arse] the good news.
"The only person that knew was the principal and the winner's mother," D'Aliso said. "When the announcement was made, it was complete and utter chaos."
Stipp said she knew "something was up" because of rumors she'd heard in the hall that the school was a semi-finalist. Still, the actual announcement was exciting.
"Everyone was screaming," she said of the [arse]embly. "You couldn't hear anything. Right afterward, me, my boyfriend and my friend took the video home to watch it, and it was kind of exciting hearing him say my name."
TWHS Principal Gregg Colshen admitted that, before the school won the contest, he had no idea who Lachey or Simpson was. When he found out the school was a semi-finalist in the contest, he decided to do some research.
"I did watch their variety hour," he said, referring to the prime-time network show that aired earlier this month.
Colshen said once it was announced the school had won the contest, the reaction was huge.
"Based upon the kids' reaction, everybody else knew who he was," he said.
Colshen joked that Lachey's performance has increased his own popularity at the school.
"I've had a lot of especially young ladies come up and think I have connections now, asking me if they can meet Nick Lachey," he said.
As if having cable TV's biggest star perform at your senior prom wasn't enough, TWHS is already going all out for the event. The senior cl[arse] is large, which requires the school to stage the prom at a venue large enough to accommodate it. This year's prom will take place at the Adam's Mark Hotel on Westheimer in Houston. The hotel's ballroom costs $30,000 to reserve.
Plus, there's all manner of decadent décor, from a gazebo to chocolate fountains and tons of greenery and petal-shooting cannons.
Tickets to the prom are free for students who pay senior cl[arse] dues of $100, which cover other events for seniors as well. Guest tickets are $50 each.
Colshen said the school will have to make special accommodations for Lachey, including moving the food to make room for his stage and taking into account the media coverage the event will likely draw.
In addition, the school and its students are concerned about security issues and other teens "crashing" the event.
Colshen said the school has doubled its regular security detail for the night. Lachey will also provide his own security, as will Seventeen and the hotel.
Stipp says now, when she walks through the halls at school, people chant "Nick Lachey, Nick Lachey" at her. It gets a little tiresome, but she's still glad for the notoriety the contest has brought her school.
The night of the prom, Stipp, her boyfriend and about 20 more friends will go to The Palm for dinner, take the limo to the prom, then end the night at a Lake Conroe lake house.
She said she's still not sure why she entered the contest, other than "It looked like a very good prize," and while she's not a huge Lachey fan, what's most important to her is the lasting impression this one night will make on her fellow students.
"I get to make the prom different for everyone," she said. "I get to make it memorable."
</span>
©The Villager 2004