Happily Ever After: Stuck at Prom Contest in its Fifth Year; Duct Tape Scholarship Contest Sticks Around, Awarding $5,000 to Top Winners in 2005

Business Wire, March 16, 2005

AVON, Ohio -- There are few trends in the fashion industry that last for more than a season, especially when teens are involved. After four years of extraordinary success, there is one trend returning for Spring 2005 - duct tape promwear.

Five years after its inception, the Duck(R) brand duct tape Stuck at Prom(R) Scholarship Contest is still awarding its top scholarship prize to high school students across North America. The previous first place winners have included a belle-of-the-ball themed couple, a pair clad in Henry VIII-era formalwear, an artfully contrived starburst ensemble, and the most recent couple, resembling Cinderella and Prince Charming. As the winners have shown, duct tape fashion has come a long way. One can only imagine what's in store for this 2005 prom season.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Duck(R) brand duct tape Stuck at Prom(R) Scholarship Contest gives couples the opportunity to win a $5,000 scholarship by attending prom dressed in duct tape duds. With a little creativity and a lot of tape, one lucky pair will have a fairytale ending like last year's winners - at the bank.

Why rent a dull penguin-suit or search for an expensive dress when prom-goers can design the ensemble of their dreams? For the past four years, couples across North America have traded in silk and satin for stick and adhesion, and the style trend is still on a roll, literally.

Available in more than 19 colors and patterns, including camouflage, Funky Flamingo (hot pink) and Island Lime, Duck(R) brand duct tape offers students numerous choices to fashion a winning wardrobe. Even traditionalists will find comfort in the popular prom hues of black, silver and red.

WHAT

Sponsored by Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc., the Duck(R) brand duct tape Stuck at Prom(R) Scholarship Contest will reward students for their creativity and originality in creating or accessorizing prom formalwear with duct tape. The first place winners will receive a $2,500 college scholarship each--a total of $5,000 for the couple--and $2,500 for the high school hosting the prom. The second place winners will each receive a $1,000 college scholarship, with the high school receiving $1,000. The third place couple will each win a $500 college scholarship, and the high school will receive $500. In addition, three Top of the Tape Award winners will receive $500 each.

HOW TO ENTER

Interested students can go to www.ducktapeclub.com for official contest rules and a registration form. The contest began on March 7, 2005. Participants are required to submit a completed entry form and a photo of themselves wearing their duct tape prom formalwear. Photos and entries must be received by June 10, 2005.

Entries can be submitted at www.ducktapeclub.com or sent via mail to:

Stuck at Prom(R) Contest

c/o Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc.

32150 Just Imagine Drive

Avon, OH 44011-1355

WINNER SELECTION

During the contest period, all entries, including those from previous years, can be viewed at www.ducktapeclub.com. Entries are posted in the order they are received.

First, second and third place winners will be chosen by a panel of judges including Jim & Tim, the famed Duct Tape Guys, and Todd Scott, duct tape guru and sculptor. Winners will be judged on a number of criteria, including workmanship, originality, creative use of accessories and quantity of duct tape used.

In addition, three Top of the Tape Award winners will be selected based on online voting, which starts June 17 and ends June 26. Entries will be grouped into one of the three Attire Categories: Traditional Prom Attire; Theme/Costume Attire; and Just Plain Silver Attire. The couple receiving the highest number of votes in each category will receive the Top of the Tape Award for that category.

Winners will be announced on or around July 8, 2005.

2004 WINNERS

In 2004, 324 couples from 43 states and Canada participated in the Stuck at Prom(R) Scholarship Contest. The winners, Kris Murray, 17, and Caitlyn Waters, 16, attended the Oklahoma Christian Home Educators Association Prom in Oklahoma City, Okla., decked out in duds fit for fairytale royalty, made from 54 rolls of duct tape.

The handsome couple, dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming, set forth to the palace in anything but rags. Waters was clad in a white Cinderella-like gown with red, yellow and blue detailing, while Prince Murray's red and yellow epaulettes accented his white jacket and red pants. The royal couple danced the night away keeping track of the stroke of midnight on the duct tape clock adorning Waters' dress. In all, it took the couple 50 hours to complete the outfits.

Murray and Waters said reactions from students and teachers at the prom were consistent. "Everyone at prom looked at us in jaw-dropping amazement and utter astonishment," said Murray. "People kept asking if the outfits were really all duct tape. Most people thought the project was pretty incredible," added Waters.

Duck(R) brand duct tape is available nationally at retailers such as Ace Hardware(R), True Value(R), Lowe's(R) and Wal-Mart(R). Duck brand duct tape is available in more than 19 colors and patterns, including camouflage, fluorescent green, pink, orange and yellow, standard silver, and an assortment of other solid colors such as red, yellow, black and blue. For more information on where to buy Duck brand duct tape, go to www.duckproducts.com.