Approximately 60 high school students from across the region will be wearing beautiful dresses to their proms this spring thanks to the efforts of Global Fashion students at Capital Region BOCES.
During three separate Cinderella Prom Dress events at the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus in early April, the teens chose from more than 200 new and used gowns, which were sold to students for $5 each, and, in some cases, given away for free.
“It’s beautiful,” said Ayasha Hatlee, a Canajoharie sophomore who attends BOCES’ Maywood School. “It was fun getting to find a prom dress I like.”
Criminal Justice program senior Faith Nunez also found a dress for her Schenectady High School prom.
“It was fun finding a nice dress,” she said. It’s a good thing to provide because some of the girls out there don’t have a lot of money to spend on a dress, so they can come here and get a nice dress for nothing or almost nothing.”
Organized by students in the Global Fashion program, the sale was open to the
more than 1,400 students who attend the Career and Technical Education Center, as well as students in the BOCES Special Education program.
High school juniors and seniors in the Fashion program spent hours ironing, steaming
and, in a few cases, making minor repairs to gently used dresses to make them ready. They then assisted the students in picking it out “just the right” dress.
“It feels good to see all of these dresses get upcycled and to help people out at such a low cost,” said Guilderland senior Hannah Ralston.
Taylor Davis, a senior from Shenendehowa, concurred.
“Seeing everyone in their dresses and helping them to find something for cheap is such a great feeling,” she said.
Teacher Chloe Perazzelli said that in addition to the prom dresses, a handful of suits and jackets were also provided to students.
She also thanked the faculty and staff of Maywood Academy, who collected about 50 dresses for this sale.
Proceeds of the sale are being used to fund a charity on campus.