Cheers to 10 Years of Dancing in Duct Tape

AVON, Ohio, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The perfect prom night requires a few essentials: the venue, the music, the friends and the hair. While these may change, there is one key item to bring to prom that has remained the same from year to year: style. Students seek the outfit that will "stick" out and leave a memorable impression on their peers – and, for the past decade, one familiar fix-all has helped many do just that: duct tape.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100210/CL53184 )

Ten years ago, Duck Tape® brand duct tape launched the Stuck at Prom® Scholarship Contest, which challenges high school students from the United States and Canada to create and accessorize prom outfits that are unique, beautiful and made out of duct tape. It is a prime opportunity for high school students to make a lasting impression at their proms and possibly earn some much-needed scholarship money for college. Since its inception in 2001, more than 5,500 students have participated in the contest and more than $80,000 has been awarded in scholarship money.

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Stuck at Prom Contest, the top 10 couples chosen will each receive scholarship money: first place will receive $3,000 each and $3,000 for the school that hosted their prom, second place will receive $2,000 each and $2,000 for their school, third place will receive $1,000 each and $1,000 for their school, and the remaining seven finalist couples will receive $500 each and $500 for their school.

The 10 finalist couples will be chosen from all contest entries by a panel of judges based on workmanship, originality, use of color, accessories and quantity of duct tape used to create their prom attire.  These couples will then compete during a period of online public voting to earn the top scholarship prize.  However, staying in the race could prove a bit tricky…In a new voting format, the top 10 couples will be "voted off" based on lowest number of overall online votes.

Students interested in participating can go to www.stuckatprom.com for official contest rules, important contest dates and a registration form. The contest, sponsored by ShurTech Brands, LLC, marketers of Duck Tape brand duct tape, starts on March 1, 2010. Participants are required to submit completed forms and a photo of themselves wearing their duct tape prom formalwear by June 7, 2010. During each week of the online voting period, which runs from June 18 – July 26, two top 10 finalist couples be eliminated from the competition based on the lowest number of total valid, online votes. The eliminations will occur on each Wednesday of the voting period, beginning on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. The winning couples will be announced on or about July 28, 2010.

During the contest period, all accepted entries, including those from previous years, can be viewed at www.stuckatprom.com.

DUCK BRAND

Duck Tape® brand duct tape is available nationally at mass merchandise, hardware and craft retailers. Duck Tape® brand duct tape is available in more than 20 colors and patterns, including aqua, camouflage, fluorescent green, pink, orange and yellow, standard silver, and an assortment of other traditional colors such as red, yellow, black and blue. More information on where to buy Duck Tape® brand duct tape is listed at www.duckbrand.com.

The Duck® brand offers an array of tapes, packaging supplies and home products that provide simple, imaginative and helpful solutions for a variety of tasks around the home, school and office. Visit www.duckbrand.com for additional product information.

SHURTECH BRANDS

ShurTech Brands, LLC, markets do-it-yourself tapes, office and housewares products under the Duck®, Painter's Mate Green®, FrogTape® and Easy Liner® brands. The company is a subsidiary of Shurtape Technologies, LLC, Hickory, N.C., an industry-leading producer of pressure sensitive masking, duct, packaging and specialty tape products, with facilities in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Peru, United Arab Emirates and China. Shurtape services numerous markets, including industrial, packaging, HVAC, professional paint, auto, marine, aerospace, arts and entertainment, and retail. Shurtape also manufactures and markets the Shurtape™ and Kip™ brands. Visit www.shurtech.com for more information.

SOURCE ShurTech Brands, LLC