Henry VIII Era Duct Tape Fashions Win Prom Couple $5,000 in 2002 Stuck at Prom Contest

Business Wire, July 11, 2002

Business Editors

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Emily Ewald and Mike Mace had a prom experience fit for a king.

The duo attended the Rochelle Township High School prom in Rochelle, Illinois, "ducked" out as 16th Century English nobles in prom formalwear made entirely from duct tape. The costumes, reminiscent of those worn during the reign of Henry VIII, catapulted the couple to win top prize in the national Stuck at Prom(TM) contest, and each received a $2,500 college scholarship from Duck(R) brand duct tape.

Alas, the duct tape garments hath proved to be stylish, surprisingly mobile and extremely profitable for the pair. Ewald and Mace's English Tudor style formalwear surpassed the designs of 572 high school couples from 50 different states and Canada who also participated in the contest. Lady Ewald fashioned a red and yellow duct tape gown with red cape, while Sir Mace was adorned in black knickers and vest with matching red and yellow puffed sleeve jacket and cap to reign over their high school kingdom. All of their very regal garments were made from duct tape.

Mace, 17, who will be attending Western Illinois University as a freshman this fall, was searching online for college scholarships when he found out about the competition. He immediately proposed the idea to his girlfriend of one year (Ewald) to join him in the contest.

Ewald wasn't as shocked by her beau's suggestion to wear the sticky stuff as she was about the variety of color choices available. "We had no idea that duct tape came in any colors but gray," said Ewald, 15. "When we told our friends about the contest, they all thought we were going to show up at prom looking like the tin man."

Ewald and Mace rolled in their moms and grandma to help make their prom formalwear. In all, it took 35 rolls of yellow, black, white, and red duct tape and 50 hours of work to create the regal duct tape duds. In the end, there was little they did not know about duct tape. From seams and ruffles to gussets and folds, they now know how to do it with duct tape.

Ewald and Mace said everyone attending their prom was really impressed by their outfits. "The reaction was just crazy!" said Ewald. "As we filed into the gym, we received the closest thing to a standing ovation." "We were the last ones to come in," Mace added, "and everyone said the applause was about ten times louder for us than any other couple."

In addition to Ewald and Mace's scholarships, Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc., marketers of Duck brand Tape awarded $2,500 to Rochelle Township High School for hosting the prom of the winning couple; $1,000 scholarships to 2nd Place Winners Danielle Punches and Ollie Haerle of Glen Rose High School in Glen Rose, Texas; and $500 scholarships to 3rd Place Winners Taylor Lee and Jason Anglen of Waxahachie High School in Waxahachie, Texas. In addition, several couples, including, Holly Monsen and Asa Bradford of Erskine Academy in Maine; Melinda Cook and Christopher Oppold of Freeport High School in Illinois; and Monica Pfannestiel and Aaron Garcia, of Holy Family High School in Colorado, were named Honorable Mention Winners and received Duck Tape Sportswear packages.

Michelle Heffner, Digital Communications Manager for Henkel Consumer Adhesives, said Ewald and Mace had steep competition. "We were overwhelmed by the high quality of entries. We also received a lot of good feedback from parents because our scholarship was based on creativity and originality, not just academics."

To view all of the entries in the 2002 Duck(R) brand duct tape Stuck at Prom Contest, visit www.ducktapeclub.com.

Everyone has memories of their high school prom, but these winners have memories that will "stick" with them for a lifetime.

Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc., formerly Manco, develops and markets a broad array of imaginative products for the home, school and office under the Duck(R) and Loctite(R) brands. In Canada, the company markets products under the LePage(R) brand through Henkel Canada Corporation, Consumer Adhesives. Henkel Consumer Adhesives achieved sales of $304 million in 2001. For more information, visit www.henkelca.com.

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