OHS' Prom night

To get herself prepared for the Odessa High prom, junior Melanie Del Bosque spent around $200.

To prepare - and pull off - the school dance, it cost Melanie and the rest of the junior board $25,000.

"I was up this morning doing the final tally, and I wanted to cry," junior board sponsor Hortencia Del Bosque said.

Hortencia Del Bosque's daughter Melanie serves as president of the junior board and spent most of Saturday preparing for the big event.

The teenager'll be the first to tell you she's not a girly girl.

In fact she said she rarely gets her hair done unless it's for a special occasion.

The 17-year-old arrived at Amy's Hair Salon in a gray tank top, black and green basketball shorts and flip flops.

The evening's high school prom was the "special occasion" she was getting ready for.

"I told my mom I'm tired - I'm ready for this to be over," Melanie said.

The weeks-long preparation was so taxing that preparing Saturday for the prom itself was a breeze, Melanie said.

"Today is - relaxing," she said.

It took hairdresser Susanna Hibler a little more than half an hour to get the teen's hair just right.

Next Melanie was off to her friend and fellow junior board member Andrea Garcia's house.

"I'll admit I didn't want to wake up so early on Saturday mornings," Andrea said as she helped Melanie with her makeup. "But once I saw that it was getting pretty - it was worth it,"

The Odessa High prom, "One Night. One Wish," held an Arabian Nights theme.

The shindig was put together with actors portraying Disney's Aladdin and Jasmine, live animals, belly dancers, casino games and even a fortune teller.

After Andrea and Melanie enjoyed a pre-dance dinner at Harrigan's, they finally headed into the Genie's bottle at the Ector County Coliseum's Barn G.

With months spent raising money, building decorations and making last-minute adjustments, the moment the teens had been waiting for had finally come.

After all that planning and hard work, Melanie just had one thing on her mind.

"I just want to dance," she said.

PROM COURT

>> Elaine Carrasco.

>> Brittany Cisneros.

>> Beth Koepp.

>> Whitley Nino.

>> Samantha Salazar.

>> Richard Cerda.

>> Josh Clark.

>> Hugo Corral.

>> Travis Howard.

>> Roy Ramos.

AND THE WINNER IS ...

>> Prom Queen Terin Padilla.

>> Prom King Donta Perry.