Seniors at senior prom: Two alum from the Class of 1962 attend North Eugene High's prom

North Eugene High School's prom featured two very special guests this year, making the night more memorable for all involved.

Anne Mayes-Smith, 79, and Ann Privrasky, 80, donned their best dresses, rode in style in a black limousine and attended the school's senior prom on May 4.

Smith and Privrasky aren't part of the North Eugene High Class of 2024, of course, but they are alumnae from the Class of 1962.

The pair had been active in helping with the closure of the original school building in 2023. Clair Wiles, an NEHS AVID teacher and prom organizer, said she had the idea of inviting the couple after she learned Privrasky hadn't attended her prom six decades ago

"When we were working together for closure party, almost every time we got together, prom came up," Wiles said. "Last year, I was at prom ... and I was like, why aren't the Ann(e)'s here?"

Wiles said that since the reunion, she had kept in touch with the alumnae. Now that everyone was more settled into the new NEHS building, she wanted to offer Mayes-Smith and Privrasky the experience of attending a modern prom.

Mayes-Smith said she was surprised by the offer but was excited about the opportunity.

The two almost rejected the offer because they couldn't drive at night, so Wiles arranged for a limousine to pick them up, along with Wiles' two foreign exchange students and their friends. They then enjoyed a picnic in a private room inside the venue before joining the festivities.

"It was absolutely so fun," Privrasky said. "Clair just made it an absolutely perfect, perfect evening."

Bringing classics to modern prom

Privrasky, a self-proclaimed "girly girl", already had her velvet black dress that she wore, but Mayes-Smith went on a shopping spree at JCPenney. She said she was blown away by the wide range of styles. Mayes-Smith spied one navy dress with silvery sparkles swathing the shoulders, and it was a perfect fit.

"It's just been a really amazing adventure," Mayes-Smith said.

The prom's theme was "A Night of Enchantment," and the two were certainly enchanted by the experience. Both said they were both impressed by the different dresses, suits and formal attire worn by the students. Students came up to welcome them and complimented their dresses throughout the night.

In a mix with the latest Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé songs, the DJ also played tunes by Elvis and The Beatles. The students kept dancing all the same, and some even sang along.

"Seeing all of the teenagers was very interesting and it was very enlightening," Privrasky said. "People would come up to us and tell us how nice we looked or how beautiful we looked. It was easy to return the compliment because everybody looked so nice."

Privrasky said Mayes-Smith offered guidance throughout. Not only had Mayes-Smith attended her junior and senior proms in the early '60s, but she and her husband also volunteered at their daughter's prom when she was in school in the '90s.

Mayes-Smith said she observed plenty of differences.

Her prom was held in the high school's gym. But now, NEHS, like many other high schools, held its prom in a separate venue. NEHS's was at Studio 252 in Eugene. Mayes-Smith also noticed all different sorts of groups of friends and couples.

"'In my day,' you had dates," Privrasky mentioned. "Now, kids go in groups. And I think that is just great. You can enjoy the whole concept of a prom, but not have to sit at home because somebody didn't ask you, and I like that a lot."

"Some came up to us and told us they were glad we came and things like that, which I did not expect at all," Mayes-Smith said. "The other thing I noticed was I didn't know how they would dance anymore. It's mostly jumping up and down."

"Their world is so different than our world was in the '60s," Privrasky said. "It's nice for me to have a view of that."

But some things never change. Mayes-Smith said prom has always been a right of passage. Prom is coveted by teens and has been celebrated in media throughout the decades.

"All of it is so it's exciting," Mayes-Smith said. "You feel very grown up."

When comparing it to her senior prom, Mayes-Smith couldn't help reflecting on her date.

Mayes-Smith attended her senior prom with the man who would be her husband. Twelve years ago, her husband died, so she said the modern prom brought a wave of memories to her.

During the modern prom, the DJ played her requested song of "Moon River" by Audrey Hepburn. She ended up dancing with Wiles' husband, who offered his hand.

"I really don't listen to it anymore, because it'll trigger me into getting into a mood," Mayes-Smith said. "By the second note, I knew that's what it was. And I thought, 'Okay, you cannot lose it. Just enjoy it.' He's here in my heart."

Partway through the song, the prom's DJ cut in and danced with Mayes-Smith.

"I did have a lot of déjà vu about that, and it was all wonderful," Mayes-Smith said.

Crowned queens

During the prom court reveal, Wiles took to the mic to make a special announcement. Mayes-Smith said it was largely a blur. She remembered Wiles' husband ushering the alumnae onto the main floor. Suddenly, Wiles was asking "the Ann(e)'s" to come on stage. NEHS Principal Nain Muñoz placed a crown and sash on Mayes-Smith.

"We could not believe it. It was just crazy," Mayes-Smith said. "It was a complete shock. To the point you're thinking ... This is the sweetest most loving thing that she (Wiles) could do."

Both Privrasky and Mayes-Smith said they were blown away by the recognition.

"I was quite taken aback," Privrasky said. "Anne is the talker ... and she was even at a loss for words. We were so surprised."

When Wiles was planning the prom, the idea of crowning Mayes-Smith and Privrasky came up. She realized there were no real rules and she could crown the pair and make the night even more memorable.

Not only was this prom special to the alumnae who attended it, but it held a lot of meaning for Wiles herself.

Wiles has been running NEHS's prom for 26 years since she was a student teacher, but this was her last go. She said she is handing the reins off to another organizer for next year.

"I was like, 'This is my last prom that I'm in charge of, I get to call the shots,'" Wiles said. "'I am going to have an extra prom court. I'm going to have two prom queens. I'm going to just let them float on cloud nine for a night."

Remembering the past

Mayes-Smith and Privrasky met in high school. While the two weren't particularly close in school, they grew together in the years since through reunions and a shared love of the past. Mayes-Smith said the Class of 1962 was a class that didn't get in trouble.

However, the Class of 1962 was notorious for accidentally ruining the gym floor, which was brand new, due to their prom's fountain flooding the middle of the dance floor. They had to rip out all the floors because of it.

"That was probably really the worst thing our class ever did, we were mortified," Mayes-Smith recalled.

Both alumnae said the Class of 1962 is a close-knit class. Mayes-Smith hosts monthly get-togethers over Zoom and the entire group meets annually to celebrate their class reunion.

"There's just been some kind of connection that we have with each other," Mayes-Smith said. "We do things together, we go to lunch together, we, you know, different ones visit each other ... I remember my mother telling me all those years ago that our class was unique. We had a real fondness for each other."

Both agreed that the prom experience was wonderful, and they said they whole-heartedly thanked Wiles for including them.

"I worked in the school for years down at North Bend, and I know amazing teachers, when I say she (Clair) brings so much more than the basic teacher," Mayes-Smith said.

Mayes-Smith said Wiles is a blessing in her life, and she couldn't say enough good words about her.

"It was a special experience made possible by a very special person," Privrasky said. "I am so glad that Anne Smith and I were able to share that. When we see each other and encounter each other, I will have a big grin."

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: A night to remember: Two Class of '62 alums crowned at North Eugene High prom