Get "Stuck at the Prom" with Duck Tape This Spring and Win Cash for College

Every spring when the school year comes to a close, high school juniors and seniors show off their unique formal style by exhibiting the prom attire they've chosen. The outfit selected for this occasion will be preserved for years to come in photos, home videos and memories, so distinctiveness is a must. The last thing any girl wants is for another to show up in the same dress!

What if I said there's a cool way to prevent the dreaded same-dress disaster while showing off your creativity, standing out and maybe even winning a scholarship, and all you need is some duct tape? Well, there is. Duck brand duct tape is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its "Stuck at the Prom" scholarship contest by looking for the best duct tape prom outfits students over the age of fourteen in the United States and Canada have to offer.

Starting March 1, 2010 at 12:01 am Eastern Time, you will be able to submit pictures of your prom creation for a chance at the following prizes:

First Place: Each individual member of the entrant couple will receive a $3000 cash scholarship and the school hosting the winning couple's prom will also get $3000

Second Place: Each individual member of the entrant couple will receive a $2000 cash scholarship and the school hosting the winning couple's prom will also get $2000

Third Place: Each individual member of the entrant couple will receive a $1000 cash scholarship and the school hosting the winning couple's prom will also get $1000

Runners up: Each individual member of the runners up winning couples will receive a $500 cash scholarship and the schools hosting the runners up winning couples' prom will also get $500

The deadline for submitting entries is 11:59 pm Eastern Time June 7, 2010.

Of course, every contest has its rules. The rules for this one are as follows:

1) You must enter as a couple. No individuals may enter solo. The couples need not be male and female, but the entry needs to be two people in duct tape prom outfits. You will also have to provide contact information for each member of the couple which includes each individual's full name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, age/grade level, and the name of the closest major city to the individual's hometown. The couple does not have to attend the same school, but the school hosting the prom they attend will receive the winnings.

2) You must be a legal resident of the United States or Canada and must be fourteen years of age or older. This contest is void in Quebec, Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law.

3) All entrants must attend either a high school, home school association, or other school-sanctioned prom in the spring of 2010 (old prom photos won't cut it). You will be required to provide the name, address and telephone number of the high school (or other applicable institution) and the date the prom was held. This will be verified. If your school's prom happens before or after the dates of the contest, you will not be allowed to participate.

4) The attire must be original and created by the couple. If it is a copy of someone else's work or if it is found to be made by someone other than the couple, it's grounds for disqualification. If you are chosen as a winner, you will be required to ship your outfit to the sponsor before you receive your prize.

5) The couple must agree to the contest's terms of service. If either or both members of the couple are minors, their parents will be required to sign a "Liability and Publicity Release and Consent" form.

6) The photo you use for the entry must be high resolution. It can be either amateur or professional. Keep in mind that, if you enter a professional image, you will be required to submit a release form signed by the photographer because contest entries, including the pictures, become the property of the sponsor .

7) One entry per couple. So don't make a whole line of duct tape prom dresses and expect to enter them all!

So you've submitted your picture. The next challenge is to make the top ten! Who makes the top ten will be based on the votes of a pre-determined panel of judges. These judges will base their decision on five criteria: workmanship (30%), originality (25%), use of color (15%), accessories (10%) and quantity of duct tape used (10%).

Workmanship is the overall quality of the outfit. They will focus on neatness and attention to detail. Try to remember the little things that a prom outfit needs without going overboard. You don't want your look to appear messy and unplanned.

Originality is pretty straight forward. They are looking for a unique piece that hasn't been done before. Many of the previous years' winners based their outfits on a theme (royalty, Vegas, peacocks) but used their imagination to take their outfits to places outside the usual. If you decide to go with a theme, try to pick one that hasn't been over done and one that allows for a lot of self expression.

Use of color doesn't mean you should just throw in a bunch of colors at random. They are judging based on how color is used; not how much. The colors should work harmoniously in combinations that are pleasing to the eye and make sense.

Don't just make a dress and tux and leave it at that. Use your imagination and accessorize! Go for hats, jewelry, shoes, gloves, ball masks, hair pieces, flowers and anything else you can build from duct tape that will add that extra bit of spice to your outfit. Just remember, don't go over board and wind up with a duct tape mess!

The more duct tape, the better. That is the point of this contest, after all. Just a corsage or tie made out of duct tape isn't going to sway the judges. This is supposed to be a challenge. If you want to win, you'll have to put in some effort and use a lot of tape!

To get an idea of what makes a winner stand out or to see what's been done before, check out the contest's home page. It has the previous winners displayed to the right. Or you can look at all the past entries by visiting the photo gallery.

After you make top 10, visitors to the Duck tape site will be allowed to vote. Prior to voting, they will be required to sign up with their email. They will then be limited to only one vote per email per day. Get your friends and family to visit the site, register and vote!

Each week the two couples with the lowest votes will be eliminated until only the top three remain. The couple receiving the most votes will receive the first prize.

After March 1, you will be able to enter the contest by visiting this page. If you cannot scan the signed release forms, you will have to fax the copies to 440-937-7092. Photos should not be submitted via fax. If you cannot enter online, you may send your photos, information and release forms to the following address:

Stuck at Prom Contest
ShurTech Brands, LLC
32150 Just Imagine Dr.
Avon, OH 44011-1355

If you need to know where to find colored duct tape, click here. Also, you do not have to use Duck brand tape for the contest, so if you find other colors of tape you'd like to use that isn't made by Duck, go ahead.

Good luck, contest entrants! Remember what you've learned and be original, pay attention to detail, accessorize, use color without being chaotic and, most importantly, have fun!

Helpful Links:

Stuck at the Prom Contest Home

Contest Official Rules

Contest Frequently Asked Questions

Duck Tape's Official Contest Press Release