Students from 26 high schools attend annual Primp for Prom event in Woodward

March 13, 2020

Freedom High School sophomores Jaci Weber (left) and Katlynn Rhodes shop for dresses at Primp for Prom.

Alva High School freshman Erica Coday (right) and her mom Tricia look for the perfect dress at Primp for Prom.

More than 250 dresses were given away to students from 26 high schools in Oklahoma and Texas during the annual Primp for Prom event recently held in the Woodward High School Practice Gym.

This year more than 400 dresses and nearly 75 pairs of shoes were donated to the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Department of Social Work that co-sponsors the event with members of the Woodward High School Key Club.

“Primp for Prom is an event that always highlights the generosity of others and the kindness that exists in our local communities,” Dr. Kylene Rehder, department of social work chair, said.

This event is something that Key Club members look forward to helping with each year.

“It’s always fun to see the busloads of girls come in from surrounding towns and from Woodward as well, who get to come shop around,” said Key Club sponsor Stefanie Alexander. “They get to look for shoes and jewelry and find the perfect dress. And, it’s just always such a fun experience to get to see them enjoy the shopping experience.”

Wynter Standridge, a Northwestern junior from Woodward and member of the Social Workers Association of Tomorrow (SWAT) organization that helps with the event, enjoys being a volunteer. She sees Primp for Prom as being an important event for any high schooler who is dreaming of a wonderful prom experience but is not quite sure they can afford their attire.

Several girls attending the event also noted cost-factor including Carlie Gallegos, a Forgan High School junior, who has attended Primp for Prom in the past and also attended this year. She said it can be expensive to purchase a prom dress when coming from a single-mom family, so she is thankful for those who donated dresses and accessories so that girls can choose items for free. She added that she brought back the dress she chose last year and picked up a new one this year.

Hanna Bowen, Woodward High School junior, is also thankful for this event.

“Primp for Prom is pretty important to me because there are some people out there who can’t afford prom dresses and don’t have money for shoes or jewelry,” Bowen said. “It’s something important for getting to actually be involved in prom. I think it’s something unique that all schools should have.”

Rehder expressed appreciation on behalf of the department of social work to those who helped with the event’s success including the Woodward High School Key Club members and their sponsor Stefanie Alexander; Woodward campus dean Dr. Deena Fisher and her husband Tom, Judy Guthrie, Northwestern social work student volunteers, SWAT members, Woodward High School employee volunteers, Stage, and all the generous dress and accessory donors from across northwest Oklahoma. She noted a special thanks to the administration of Woodward Public Schools for playing host to the event.

“The department of social work and the Key Club are always honored to sponsor this event,” Rehder said. “This event is about more than dresses for us; we see it as a means to embody our university mission to build a sense of community and an opportunity to serve others.”

For more information about this event or the department, please contact Rehder at kdrehder@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8135.

-NW-