When prom season dominates NC’s atmosphere, participating upperclassmen search high and low for the outfit to complement a night of entertainment and fashion glamorously. A majority of formal outfits cost a mountain of money, and students may spend hundreds of dollars to doll up for one night. To help students financially, generous individuals across the nation donate to Becca’s Closet, which provides a variety of free dresses. In turn, students enjoyed a fashionable prom night, looking fabulous and remaining unburdened from monetary expenses.
Becca’s Closet originated from a dress drive formed by freshman Rebecca Kirtman at Nova High School in Davie, Florida, built on a foundation of generosity for those in need. In the year following, Kirtman collected a whopping 250 dresses to donate to South Floridian students wishing to attend their prom with appropriate glamour. In 2003, 16-year-old Kirtman died in a devastating car accident; her parents coped with the loss by formalizing their daughter’s dress drive into a charity and reminiscing over her old diaries and scrapbooks with her grieving friends. Kirtman’s legacy lives on through her continued efforts across the nation, including at NC.
At NC, Portuguese teacher Tatiana Watson and Spanish teacher Lorna Fair-Tham head the operation, leading students through the charitable — yet laborious — process of collecting, organizing and donating outfits. The club started at NC in 2022 by Watson and the retired Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher Becky Young, and the club has grown exponentially in the years since. In 2026, Stephania Posada and Joanna Mata shared the leadership responsibilities, guiding over 10 active members.
“My work at Becca’s Closet matters because it helps students who might not be able to afford prom still have that experience. Prom is a big memory, and everyone deserves to feel included and confident. It’s more than just dresses — it’s about making people feel seen. Being in the club has changed me by making me more aware and grateful. It’s helped me grow emotionally and taught me how to work better with others and stay organized,” Posada said.
To ensure students live out their dressed-up dreams, Becca’s Closet requires major organizational skills — both in running the operations smoothly and keeping the dresses and accessories well-kept. This responsibility compromises a majority of the club’s time, imploring students to spend time sorting, organizing and hanging up dresses. Faire-Tham keeps the formal wear in a closet behind her room, with access to a display case that shows off their selection to the language hall.
This year at NC, Becca’s closest collected over 50 dresses to allocate to students. The club excels at granting students access to formal wear in a discreet manner, maximizing glamour without the fuss of multiple-location shopping. Additionally, NC’s Becca’s Closet owns a modest number of men’s apparel items, happily providing aid to the limited population requesting such commodities.
“The dresses are primarily donated through Becca’s Closet, which partners with stores and boutiques across the country to provide contributions. In addition, members of our local community generously donate dresses. This club is important because it supports not only students at our school but also other students in our community. One of the most meaningful times of the year is when students with special needs plan to attend a Night to Shine at North Star Church and visit us to select a dress for the event,” Faire-Tham said.
Students interested in joining the fashionable feats in future school years can meet with the club on Thursdays in room 726. For future school dances, Becca’s Closet invites interested Warriors to browse their selection, opening their doors at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They communicate their openings via Instagram for both volunteers and recipients.
“In the future, I hope NC’s Becca’s Closet keeps growing and reaches more people. It would be great to have more people join the club and get involved, as well as have more events. Overall, it’s more than just a club; it’s a community that really makes a difference,” Posada said.
