Students from 18 High Schools Attend Annual Primp for Prom Event in Woodward

March 23, 2021

More than 300 dresses were given away to students from 18 high schools across northwest Oklahoma during the annual Primp for Prom event recently held in the Woodward High School Practice Gym.

This year more than 500 dresses and nearly 100 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 northwest Oklahoma,” 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.”

Camryn Beaner-Howard, a Northwestern junior social work major from Woodward loves her volunteer experiences with Primp for Prom. She enjoys assisting girls in finding the perfect dress and watching their smiles emerge in the mirror. Wynter Standridge, a Northwestern senior from Woodward and member of the Social Workers Association of Tomorrow (SWAT) organization that helps with the event, enjoys being a volunteer each year. She sees Primp for Prom as being an important event for any high school student who is dreaming of a wonderful prom experience but is not quite sure they can afford their attire.

Several girls attending the event noted that it can be expensive to purchase a prom dress so they were thankful for those who donated dresses and accessories.

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. Jonathan Thomason, Northwestern social work student volunteers, SWAT members, Woodward High School employee volunteers, 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-

CONTACT FOR RELEASE
Erin Davis, University Relations Specialist
eedavis@nwosu.edu, (580) 327-8480