By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

It started with a 3-D duct tape rose on Valentine’s Day.

Gateway High School junior Erin Wall toyed with the idea of making her own prom dress after not finding the strapless, mermaid-style she desired. She made her boyfriend of seven months, Sean Turner, also a Gateway junior, the flower and introduced a creative concept.

Taking an idea from Wall’s older sister, Meghan, the couple took prom fashion to a new level by constructing their outfits out of duct tape.

Turner and Wall, both 17, have entered the Stuck on Prom 2011 Scholarship Contest, an annual competition that challenges students to create their prom attire, accessories included, out of colorful duct tape.

The top 10 entries will be posted online and voted on over the summer by the public. The first-place couple each wins a $5,000 scholarship; the school also wins the same amount. There also are scholarship prizes for second and third places as well as honorable mention prizes — of duct tape — for the best accessories, including corsage, shoes, purse and jewelry.

“It’s not like traditional scholarships. This is fun,” Wall, of St. Cloud, said, adding the couple plan to use social media to earn votes if they make it as top 10 finalists.

“It’s refreshing to see students with this type of creativity and well-rounded talent,” Gateway Principal John Harris said of the two international baccalaureate program students. “It stands out.”

The Valentine’s Day rose made a large impression on the couple’s design. Starting with Wall’s favorite pattern—zebra print – and expounding on Gateway High’s school colors – black and red—the couple was festooned in duct tape from Wall’s necklace and earrings to Turner’s top hat and shoes. Thirty-nine roses adhered to Wall’s dress completed the design.

“It was just brainstorming,” Wall said of their design. “The more we talked about it, the more it came together.”

Since February, the teens used 32 rolls of duct tape and spent 150 hours completing their outfits. Wall even fashioned the flowers for her hair and her zebra print duct taped nails April 9, the morning of prom.

While www.prom-night.com estimates the teenage ritual can cost upwards of $1,500, Turner and Wall spent just $150 between both of their outfits.

“I wanted the zebra print Hummer limo but it wasn’t in the budget,” Wall said.

The couple’s parents financed their prom experience since the teens do not have time for after-school jobs due to academics and sports commitments.

“I encouraged her to do it,” Lori Wall said of her daughter’s unique prom attire. “We ordered the bigger rolls (of duct tape) online to make it more cost effective.”

The couple hinted at their undertaking to friends but kept the details under wraps.

“They knew we were doing it but they didn’t know the finished product,” Turner said.

Wall and Turner held idol-like status at Gateway’s Mardi Gras-themed prom at the Wyndam Orlando Resort on International Drive. They were stopped often, even by hotel guests, asking to pose for photographs.

“We felt like celebrities,” Wall said, adding that they wore their prom attire the entire dance.

“It only limited my mobility a little bit,” Turner, of Kissimmee, joked. “I could (drink) but not take my hat off.”

His date fared slightly better.

“It was warm and very tight,” Wall said. “I lasted until after dinner (they ate after prom to avoid wardrobe malfunctions) and then I changed.”

Although the couple hopes to keep their outfits as mementos — contest rules state the duct tape company can take the winning finished products — they don’t plan on wearing them again. Especially Turner, who ripped his suit trying to undress after the prom.

“They looked just stunning,” Turner’s mother, Pat, said.

While the teenagers are both unsure of which colleges they want to apply to, both have ideas about their future careers. Wall plans to major in math and possibly become a college professor or an accountant. Turner is thinking of majoring in biology.

Whether they win the contest or not, the couple both have advice for students inspired by their story.

“If you have time and are creative, start early,” Wall said.

“Don’t gain weight!” Turner added.

The public can vote for Wall and Turner from June 17 to July 11 and online voting is limited to one vote per person or email address each day. Visit www.duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom/approved/5453.aspx to view the couple’s photo gallery.