Two Oklahoma high school students have received national recognition and $1,000 each for their prom dress designs made entirely out of duct tape.
Teens Craft Their Way to the Top
Kathryn Lermy of Broken Arrow and Brittany Blackwell of Oklahoma City were named among the top 10 finalists in the 2025 Duck® Brand “Stuck at Prom” Scholarship Contest. The nationwide competition challenges teens to design and wear full prom outfits using only duct tape — rewarding creativity, craftsmanship and a strong public campaign.
$1,000 Scholarship and National Recognition
Both Lermy and Blackwell will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship and a Duck® Brand prize pack valued at $100. Their designs stood out among hundreds submitted by students across the U.S. and Canada.
“Each of the finalists poured creativity and heart into crafting unique outfits that tell their story,” said Kerry Haugh, director of product marketing for Shurtape Technologies, the company behind the Duck® brand. “Every finalist brought something inspiring to the table.”
Grand Prize Winners Take Center Stage
While Lermy and Blackwell made Oklahoma proud, two other teens claimed the top honors.
Emmalyn Holland of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania, won the $15,000 Grand Prize Dress award with a voluminous hot pink gown that took 176 hours and 31 rolls of duct tape to complete. Her design features a layered ruffle skirt, handmade jewelry and a crown — all out of tape…