We all know what a fabulous thing duct dape is – and what we use it for. I've used it for everything from removing lint from a jacket to taping a heel back onto my shoe so I could make it home. But who ever thought kids would be using it for prom night? Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest invites high school students to  use duct tape to create one-of-a-kind outfits for prom (yes, formal gowns and tuxedos!) to complete for scholarships. In fact, first place winners get a $5,ooo scholarship and a matching one goes to the school hosting the prom. [caption id="attachment_9812" align="aligncenter" width="180" caption="Johanna and Luca, last year’s entrants from Nova Scotia."] [/caption] These are not just something that kids whip up in a few hours. Long days and nights go into planning original concepts, designing and executing the outfits. But what fun it inspires. Cute, adorable, matching outfits that I could never dream up. [caption id="attachment_9817" align="aligncenter" width="204" caption="Stephanie and Blake, last year's entrants from Ontario. Love the beret!"] [/caption] And what about this? So classy, duct tape outfits. And I wonder how long it took and how many rolls of duct tape to fashion the train on her dress??! [caption id="attachment_9818" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Negin & Kyle, last year’s entrants from British Columbia."] [/caption] When I asked myself, “Why is it inspiring?” I had to answer this: Because it's fresh. It's youthful. It's a crazy thing. That fun, freeing feeling of leaving high school behind for something bigger and better. Growing up. And the excitement that surrounds prom is almost palatable. To me, this contest embodies everything that's good about youth – the passion and the energy that bubbles up at a simple contest like this one. So, if you know a teen who’s going to prom, do them a favour and send them this link so they can enter. Contest closes June 13, 2012. BTW, what would you say to a teen graduating this year?