In the weeks before his senior prom, Nathanial Dobbs found himself and his sister, Kathryn Dobbs, in a
sticky situation.
For the chance to win $10,000 each for college, and just for the fun of it, the siblings spent countless
weekends making a tuxedo and dress out of Duck Tape-brand duct tape to compete in the brand’s Stuck at
Prom scholarship contest.
Then a senior at Perrysburg High School, Nathanial Dobbs recruited his sister Kathryn Dobbs, a Bowling
Green State University student, to be his date to prom, as well as a potential prizewinner.
They were ecstatic to find out in early June that their hard work led to making the cut as a top 10
finalist couple, Nathanial Dobbs said.
"It was intense. We stayed up nights and went through about a quarter of our duct tape with trial
and error before we stopped making mistakes," he said.
"Katie and I have done so many things together, we thought it’d be a really good bonding
experience."
It took 93 hours and 40 rolls of tape in 14 colors and prints to create their prom attire and accessories
in the theme of the four elements of classical thought – earth, fire, water and air.
Though their materials cost $200 altogether, "It’s cheaper to make a duct tape tux than to buy
one," Nathanial Dobbs said.
When he first came to his mother, Liz Cope, with the idea of competing in the contest, she said no. But
she changed her mind when he told her about the scholarship prizes.
Cope’s friends would come over to watch her son and daughter painstakingly cut out 300 blades of grass,
500 scales, leaves, flames, flowers, vines, feathers and swirls to represent wind, she said.
"I’ve never seen anything like it," Cope said. "I would pay Duck Tape for giving me that
memory. They stuck on that last piece as they were walking out the door (to prom)."
Upon arriving at the high school, the siblings were swarmed by prom-goers, Kathryn Dobbs said.
"Jaws dropped. People took pictures with us, asked us if (the outfits) were real, where we bought
them," she said. "Telling people that we made them … the expressions on their faces were
great."
The backs of both outfits read #Dobbsprobs for those tagging pictures on social media websites like
Twitter and Instagram.

Perrysburg Schools and BGSU shared the siblings’ story on Facebook to help them get votes on
www.ducktape.com.
Those who want to vote for Kathryn Dobbs and Nathanial Dobbs can cast one vote daily for entry 547.
If the siblings win the contest, Perrysburg High School will also win $5,000.
Cope plans on requesting that the money is put toward a scholarship that "rewards out of the box
thinkers" like her children.
"Creativity is incredibly valued in the workplace, and as much as science and math and technology
are critical, creative thinking is equally critical," Cope said. "We want students to be
inspired but supported in their creative thinking."
Michael Short, principal of Perrysburg High School, said while the school has an "awful lot of
needs," he’d consider Cope’s scholarship idea if they are awarded the money, as well as the ideas
of Perrysburg High School students.
"We are proud of the accomplishments of our students. They’re pretty interesting kids and confident
in what they do," Short said.
Cope is also proud of her children for coming together to make a shared vision real.
"What Katie and Nate demonstrated was extreme hard work, dedication and focus. They came up with
something truly inspired, and we want other kids to be able to do that too," she said. "We
want to inspire and reward those kids who aren’t quite that shade of normal."
As far as Kathryn Dobbs is concerned, "It’s more fun that way."