The daughter of Ric and Lynette Schmidt has been busy. Rosa Wright, née Schmidt, is both a math teacher and the junior class advisor at Nome-Beltz Middle High School. She noticed that students attending the prom were underdressed due to limited options.
Nome high schoolers face many challenges when hunting for the right formal attire, such as cost, online shipping delays, and sizing differences. Wright wanted to ensure that all students could fully partake in the occasion, regardless of their wardrobe limitations.
Wright posted on Facebook asking for clothing donations, resulting in an overwhelming response from a variety of contributors ranging from Anchorage to Nome to a former resident of Nome now living in the lower 48. Inspired by this outpouring of support, Wright established what she dubbed as the “Prom Closet,” a resource offering complimentary formal wear to students in need. Students are enjoying this resource, as one senior, Jeremiah Miller noted, “I’ve been using the prom closet, it is so helpful. Not everything is used, some of it is brand new, never been used or touched at all. So it’s really nice.”
Items in the closet are available for more than just prom. Costumes are borrowed and used in Nome-Beltz theater productions.
To donate formal wear, both womens and mens, contact Rosa Wright at rwright@nomeschools.org
Image at top: Nome Beltz senior Jeremiah Miller browses items at the Prom Closet at Nome-Beltz Middle High School. Photo courtesy of Sarah Swartz, KNOM.
