Memories Live On

STURGIS, S.D. -- Over the course of the past eight months, Grace Smith has been gathering gently used prom dresses for her senior capstone project, a prom dress drive organized in memory of her best friend, Jennifer O’Dell, who passed away in 2016.

Smith decided to host a prom dress drive because she needed to find homes for her gowns. “I thought that this was a fairly common problem that many people have and that it could benefit many people as well,” she said.

“Grace's project gives girls a chance to get a prom dress for a reasonable price,” Shelby Thurlow (12) said, “and the proceeds go for a great cause.”

Since O’Dell was diagnosed early in her childhood with Prader-Willi Syndrome, Smith chose todonate any proceeds from the event to support research for a cure.

According to the Mayo Clinic staff, Prader-Willi Syndrome is “a genetic disorder that causes obesity, intellectual disability, and shortness in height.”

Smith said the prom drive came about because O’Dell loved attending prom and all the glitz that goes with it. Fortunately, she isn’t the only teen who enjoys a night of glamour, dancing and socializing.

“I feel as though Grace is doing a major service by helping girls that can't afford prom dresses feel beautiful,” Daniel Nelson (12) said.

“I think that Grace's project is a great idea and can help a lot of people find their prom dress,” Anna Hale (12) said.

For her efforts, Smith had accrued over 80 dresses for the event, which was held in SBHS’s Commons. While several girls, their friends and some of their mothers showed up for the evening, there were still a number of gowns remaining, which Smith hopes to donate to another local organization benefiting teens with Down syndrome.

Smith’s goal was $250, she said, because she didn't price the dresses to determine possible donation fees. “I happily exceeded my goal,” she said, “raising $300.”

For those ladies who did show up to peruse the dresses, their choices were wrapped carefully in preparation for prom.

“I'm really happy with the outcome, we got some girls dresses that they maybe couldn't have afforded if I didn't put this on,” Smith said, “and I raised some money for a great cause.”