AVON LAKE, Ohio – Two local teens just graduated high school, but they’re hoping to top off the year achievement that sticks: being named the king and queen of duct tape.
Rebecca Mainger and Erich Igel are finalists in the Duct Tape “Stuck at Prom” scholarship contest.
The two attended Rebecca’s prom at Magnificat High School, dressed head-to-toe in Duct Tape.
”We couldn’t walk two feet without being going what’s that,” Erich said.
”Is that duct tape? And they had to touch it and stuff and they didn’t believe it was duct tape,” Rebecca added.
Rebecca heard of the contest growing up and wanted to participate in the event, knowing she could win a scholarship. She started drafting designs for the suit and gown late last year.
“Obviously it’s fish, fish scales. I love mermaids, aquatic life and kind of just doodled one day in math and came up with an idea and went with it,” she said.
Rebecca and Erich spent more than 350 hours putting together the outfits. The dress weighs 22 pounds and the suit weighs 16 pounds.
“I was excited to give it a try,” Rebecca said. “Lots of cutting. We cut out all the scales on it. There’s about 2,000 scales total. That took the bulk of the time.”
It’s time they consider well worth the effort.
About 1,000 people entered the contest, and now the two are among the top 10. Every student is guaranteed a $500 scholarship, though if they garner enough votes online, they could win a $5,000 scholarship each. People can vote every day until the contest ends on July 8th.
“We just ask that people please go and vote if you can,” Erich said.
“Why? Because college is expensive,” Rebecca added.
Rebecca plans to attend Dequesne University and major in pre-pharmacy.
Erich, a graduate of St. Edward high School, plans to go to University of Dayton and major in computer information systems.
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/StuckAtPromRebeccaAndErich
TO VOTE FOR THE CONTEST
http://duckbrand.com/promotions/stuck-at-prom/detail/2013/948