Inaugural event raises money for AHS sophomore class

With prom season kicking off in schools around North Texas, Aledo High School became a hub for a fashion show filled with dresses, tuxes, flowers, makeup, tanning and more at the inaugural Aledo Spring Fling.

The event, held on Saturday, March 2, also housed vendors selling everything from dessert-themed candles to vibrating pillows that activate on touch to freeze-dried foods.

Aledo resident Aledo Dana Wilson stops by one of the vendor tables that featured skin care, oral care and wellness products being sold by Ana …

Mary McLellan, AP Statistics teacher and 2026 class sponsor, said she thought about having the fundraiser after realizing how costly high school celebrations like prom can be.

“It’s such an expensive year and this is a way to make deposits on venues or anything that’s needed for prom,” she said. “I really just wanted to have something that focused on the students.”

Though the future of the annual event will benefit the junior class, her current sophomores will benefit from the $6,000 raised by vendor fees, ticket sales and concessions.

Spanning several areas at the school, more than 130 vendors were set up to sell their unique items to anyone in attendance. The front section featured items tailored toward prom services like makeup, flowers, jewelry and tanning services, to name a few.

The back gym featured tux services and dresses that could be bought or rented.

Aledo High School students Jack Sawyer, left, and Daniella Tregelas, show off their fashion show looks at the Spring Fling fashion show.

Aledo High School senior Daniella Tregelas gets made up by Madison King, owner of Madam Bradley Makeup Artistry, before the Spring Fling fashion show …

A fashion show highlighting the available services in action that included lightly used and consignment dresses and rental tuxedos was something McLellan said she wanted to do to make sure students giving up their Saturday could participate in and enjoy.

Daniella Tregelas, an Aledo senior, spent time getting made up by Madison King, owner of Madam Bradley Makeup Artistry, before donning a white spaghetti-strap dress for the fashion show.

“I love getting to share what I do and make everyone more beautiful,” King said.

At the fashion show, couples were introduced and a description of what they were wearing as they walked the classroom was given.

It was reiterated that all jewelry, dresses, tuxes and services could be found at the fair.

Aledo resident Dana Wilson, whose daughter attends Aledo High School and was also in the fashion show, stopped by one of the vendor tables that featured skin care, oral care and wellness products.

She delighted in sampling some of the featured products.

“I could use this,” Wilson mused as she held one of the products.

For an inaugural event, McLellan said she was happy with the number of vendors who expressed interest and showed up but a little disappointed in the community turnout of only about 350 people despite doing her best to get the word out to the community.

“The amazing, hand-picked, quality vendors put a lot of work into setting up but did not receive support in return,” she said. “I will put this on again next year and make adjustments to attempt to get more people to attend.”