Denise Lagunas

Ava Yang and Hugo Hernandez Lara win their positions as gold royalty at South’s March prom.

Prom, a yearly formal dance celebrated by juniors and seniors across the United States for decades, was a night to remember for seniors Hugo Hernandez Lara and Ava Yang.

For more than a week, Hernandez and Yang campaigned for the positions of prom king and queen. Because of their dedication and popularity at Omaha South High School, they went home March 28 with the two golden crowns.

“The less you care, the more you live,” Hernandez said when asked why he decided to run for prom king. Hernandez said he thought it would be fun to run with Yang since they have known each other since elementary school. Yang said she also saw it as something that would be exciting, no matter the outcome.

“What is there to lose?” Yang asked.

Throughout the week of campaigning, Hernandez worked hard to stay enthusiastic despite the time-consuming and sometimes stressful process of fitting it into his busy schedule. Hernandez participates in many extracurricular activities and sports. Thanks to his family’s support, Hernandez was able to balance everything, attending prom in a suit he loved and playing in his soccer game with the team he cares about.

On the other hand, Yang said her plans for the day of prom were “surprisingly easy.” She already had a clear idea of what she wanted for her dress, heels and makeup. The only difficulty Yang faced was campaigning, which made her nervous. However, she said she was able to look past it because of the support she knew she had around her.

Being announced as prom royalty added even more significance to the night for Hernandez and Yang.

“When they called my name and I walked out, hearing all the support behind me was my favorite part of the night,” Hernandez said.

For Yang, the moment showed that the effort she put into campaigning had paid off. Both Hernandez and Yang said they would highly recommend attending prom. They said the DJ was energetic, the photo booth was a favorite among students, and spending time with friends made the dance a memorable experience.