Teen Couple Who Wore Duct Tape to Prom Win $20,000 Prize

Two Mississippi teens won the 2014 Duck brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest after arriving at prom all decked out in brightly colored outfits.

According to local affiliate WMC Action News 5, the outfits took 102 hours to create and were hand crafted, but it was all worth it for the teens, Kechantra Ward and Jeffery Patton, since they received $10,000 a piece in scholarship money for their efforts.

The couple says their designs were inspired by the marks left in the ice by figure skaters and antique skeleton keys.

“She basically had to walk me through it,” Patton said.

In an interview with Jessica Simien, Ward said she was searching for an opportunity when she found the Duck brand scholarship.

“For my junior prom I made my dress and my date’s tie and vest out of normal fabric. I’m big on scholarships, so one day I was searching for some and came across the “Stuck at Prom” scholarship contest and thought it would be great because I love to make things and I love challenges. When I picked Jeffery to be my date, I needed someone reliable that would pull it off and I knew he would.”

She noted that making the outfits took 20 rolls of duct tape. Not surprisingly, Ward plans to study fashion at Kent State in the fall. Patton has one more year of high school before he graduates.

“The most challenging part was making it and cutting out all the designs and curling the bottom of my skirt,” added Ward.

“Since the [contest] began, we’ve inspired more than 6,000 students to put their imaginations to work creating truly original prom wear, and we’re so proud of the amazing designs they’ve shared with us. This year’s winning couples are no exception,” said Ami DeWille, spokesperson for the company that markets Duck brand duct tape.