Community Corner

'Perfect Prom' For Young Women in Howard County

A Howard Community College class organized the project to offer dresses, accessories and shoes to local high school women.

One Howard Community College class is leading a community-wide effort dedicated to helping young women find the perfect prom dress at no cost to them.

The Perfect Prom Project started last year to help families who struggle with finances afford the cost of prom for their daughters, according to assistant professor Jodi Fisher, who teaches the class.

This year, the class of 23 students in Event Management 164 will open a “boutique” on the college’s campus, for one night only on Thursday. The event invites students to choose from more than 250 dresses and 50 pairs of shoes, and offers styling tips on hair and makeup, according to the students.

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“We call it the perfect prom shopping party,” said Fisher, who started the class in conjunction with the Center for Service Learning at the college last year.

The students work throughout the semester preparing for the event. They make decorations, prepare registration, create displays, keep inventory and then host the students as they choose their prom attire.

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Fisher said 27 high school women attended the event last year and 43 have RSVP'd to come to this year’s event. Tickets to the event are by invitation only.

To gather the dresses, accessories and shoes, the college’s Center for Service Learning held a prom dress drive on campus as well as solicited donations from local residents. In addition, Glenelg High School and Centennial High School ran separate drives to support the event.

Stacey Ogrin, the shopping coordinator for the event, was in charge of preparing the donated dresses for the event.

“I wanted to try on a lot of the dresses,” said Ogrin, who described one as a Fran Drescher dress, “It was short and sparkly.”

Wes Coates, who at 63 is the oldest college student in the class, said he enjoyed working on the event.

“It’s a good end result,” said Coates, who is in charge of registration. “I’m looking forward to seeing the smiling faces.”

Toya Strand, who is in charge of activities, including makeup and hair styling, said prom is a special time and that every young woman deserves a chance to attend, despite its price.

She compared prom to her recent wedding, and said it’s a rare opportunity. To help the event, she even asked some of the women in her wedding to return shoes so they could be donated.

“I’m a huge giver, I love to give back,” said Strand.

Fisher said last year the mothers who brought their daughters to the event were so happy some were in tears.

“We hope this is sustainable and something we can do for years to come,” said Fisher.

Related:

- Does it Cost Too Much to attend Prom in Howard County?

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