Getting Prom Ready with Pali High’s Prom Closet

By DAYNA DRUM | Reporter 

Prom season can be a stressful time for many high school students. Whether it’s finding the perfect outfit or scraping the money together to attend.

That’s where Palisades Charter High School teacher Karyn Newbill steps in to lend a hand with the “prom closet.”

Tucked away in a school closet, Newbill has assembled a small collection of donated dresses that students may borrow free of charge for the special evening. The biology teacher heard about the idea from other schools and decided to offer it at Pali High as well.

“People probably think that Pali doesn’t need it because we’re ‘rich,’” Newbill told the Palisadian-Post explaining that isn’t the case.

The project has so far received an overwhelmingly positive response. A couple weeks ago, Newbill only had eight dresses in the closet, ones that she had donated herself. But after posting about the project on Facebook, the dresses came pouring in.

In one weekend the collection grew to over 60 gowns, including some shoes, purses and accessories.

Not all the dresses come from neglected closet corners. Some come from designer stores, and others from parents bought specially to be added the closet.

Newbill’s goal is to eventually have something for everyone. The closet isn’t only for students who can’t afford a dress, but also for some that would just rather save the expense.

“I think it should be for everyone,” Newbill said of prom’s accessibility.

Not being able to afford prom can be an embarrassing experience for students, Newbill said.

To gain a peek at what the closet has to offer, students have to schedule a private shopping session, which gives the experience an exclusive feel. And the only requirement to check out a dress is to just return it clean.

The teacher has been organizing prom for the last seven years and loves being involved.

“It’s like planning a wedding for 700 people.”

With prom season coming to a close in the next couple weeks, Newbill urges the community to donate more dresses for next year.

She even hopes to expand the closet to encompass other events such as homecoming and graduation. Dresses can be left in a box at Pali High’s main office or with Heather DeWeese in the counseling office.