Howard Payne University’s Social Work Club recently hosted its annual Cinderella Project. At the event, young women from area high schools were given the opportunity to choose a free, like-new prom dress.
Held in HPU’s Girling Center for Social Justice, a boutique setting was created by members of the Social Work Club, with music, dressing rooms and displays of dresses and shoes.
Thanks to the donations of members of the community, 26 dresses and two pairs of shoes were given to local high school students. Fifteen HPU students were involved in preparing the boutique and supervising while dresses were being given away.
“The Cinderella Project is a wonderful opportunity for community members to help out young ladies who may not be able to shop for a new prom dress,” said Rachel Derrington, assistant professor of social work and director of HPU’s social work program. “The social work faculty and students at HPU also get the chance to serve those young ladies by collecting the donated dresses, organizing the dresses in our makeshift ‘shop’ and helping them pick out the dresses.”
Applications for admission are being accepted for the fall 2019 semester at Howard Payne University (www.hputx.edu/apply). HPU offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships for students from Brown County and surrounding counties. For more information about HPU, contact HPU’s Office of Admission at 325-649-8020 or by e-mail at enroll@hputx.edu.
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Cutline: Jessica Catlett, a senior majoring in social work and the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, arranges dresses at Howard Payne University’s Cinderella Project event.