This year’s Academy Ball is less than a week away, and NDA can have lots to expect from the event.

This year, the event will be hosted at the Swan Club in De Pere on Saturday, May 4, from 6:30- 10 p.m. This event space was chosen based on the date availability; the school tries to host the Academy Ball the first weekend in May so that it does not conflict with the Spring Play, Mother’s Day, or come too close to final exams.

“We also liked the fact that the Swan Club provided us lots of space and plenty of parking for students,” said Mrs. Caitlin VandenWynngard, one of the Student Government advisers who planned the event.

Mrs. VW, along with Frau, executive director of Student Government, worked with a group of volunteer students to plan the Academy Ball, and these students are the ones who contributed ideas and planned the decorations for the event.

The theme for this year’s Academy Ball is “Garden Party.” The venue will feature hundreds of freshly cut flowers and a coordinating color scheme, which includes pink, gold, dark gray and white.

There will also be a photo booth, and $50 gift cards will be given away every hour.

“They have a nice focal wall, and the color scheme is dark gray, gold, white and some wood tones,” said Mrs. VW.

The Swan Club has been recently renovated and features a single, three-tiered room. There will be a buffet-style dinner with a pasta bar, chicken or meatballs, garlic bread, vegetables, a salad bar, dessert and refreshments. There will also be pizzas offered at 9 p.m.

“The Swan Club did a great job updating their venue, and it is beautiful. There will be two buffet lines on both lower levels, and the dance floor will be on the top level with plenty of space to dance and socialize,” said Mrs. VW.