Simon Gratz Senior Wins Prom Makeover In Essay Contest
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Simon Gratz High School senior won an all-expense paid prom make over yesterday.
"This has been an iffy year, so this will be the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cupcake."
Katherine Adepoju-Odusanya, 18, says it's been a tough year for her. The Gratz senior moved to the US last June and had a hard time adjusting. So when Gratz Class of 2000 grad Jay Young announced the 2012 Prom Makeover Extravaganza essay contest, she used the opportunity to vent about her experience.
"I just wrote about my transition from London to here and what I want to do with my future. When I first moved here, it was weird because I was by myself, but then as the months started to progress people started to be nicer to me. Now I am part of the family."
Jay Young of Jay Young Signature, Inc. says he came up with the idea because prom is expensive and he wanted to give back to his alma mater.
"There were a couple of people that I knew when I was in school that couldn't afford to go. Paying for car, paying for prom tickets, paying for limos, paying for dresses, paying for haircuts, it's just very hard.""
Young says the makeover includes prom tickets, transportation in a luxury vehicle, a custom made dress, shoes, hair and makeup for a total prize value of more than $3,000. All of the items included in the makeover were donated from several Philadelphia businesses, including Sina Marie Sallon and Premier Luxury Rentals.
