Pictured is Emery Kellerman, a senior at Williamsburg High school, who wore a Duck Tape dress to prom for a scholarship opportunity. The ribbon is in honor of her friend, Emily Lamb, who died in 2017 from a rare tissue cancer.

By Brett Milam
Editor

Getting stuck with exuberant college tuition isn’t ideal, so Emery Kellerman decided to get stuck in a different way: with Duck Tape.

Pictured is Emery Kellerman, a senior at Williamsburg High School, who wore a Duck Tape dress to prom in hopes of getting a scholarship through the company’s annual “Stuck at Prom” scholarship.

Emery is a high school senior at Williamsburg High School, and has been accepted to Cedarville University in Ohio in the fall. However, tuition at Cedarville is $38,000 a year.

Beth Kellerman, Emery’s mother, and math teacher at the high school, explained that Emery decided to apply for a special scholarship to offset those tuition costs.

The Duck Tape company puts out an annual Stuck at Prom scholarship, where first place winner receives $10,000 and second receives $500, respectively. Aside from doing the dress (or tuxedo for boys), entrants also have to submit an essay or video documenting the journey.

In March, Emery decided to make and wear a Duck Tape prom dress to the May 18 prom, Beth said.

“Emery, with help from her grandma and dance teacher, has been working very hard on her 98% Duck Tape prom dress (zipper, and thread is the only part not Duck Tape),” Beth said.

Beth said the dress includes 500 handmade Duck Tape flowers and used over 24 rolls of Duck Tape.

Everyone at the school knew Emery was on this journey, but did not see the reveal until the grand march at the high school prior to prom.

“Emery is the most amazing person I have ever known,” Beth said, writing to The Sun on Mother’s Day. “She is a four-year varsity cheerleader, and track star who holds our school record for high jump, class president, salutatorian, homecoming queen, and literally the sweetest person alive.”

Beth said it takes a strong person to spend three months on this dress, and then wear it in front of her community and peers.

“But, if anyone can pull it off, she can,” Beth said.

The dress also had even more significance than potential help with tuition costs.

Emery’s friend, Emily Lamb, died from a rare tissue cancer during their sophomore year in 2017 at the age of 16.

Since it would have been Emily’s senior prom as well, on Emery’s dress, there’s a small, mint green ribbon that says, “In honor of Emily.”

Beth said Emery will submit her dress the week of May 20, and then Duck Tape selects the top 5-10 dresses and tuxes and opens it to voting. Winners are announced in July.

To view the submissions, go to the Duck Tape website.