Incoming Ferris State student taps his Bulldog pride and automotive aspirations for one-of-a-kind convertible duct tape tux
When Calder Westerman says he’s stuck on Ferris State University and auto racing, he’s not kidding.
The 18-year-old incoming freshman spent 85 hours and used 15 rolls of duct tape to design a one-of-a-kind, full-size tuxedo that transforms into a racing suit for a chance to win the Duck Brand Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest and $15,000 for college.
Calder Westerman's one-of-a-kind duct tape tuxedo is pictured here.
His duct-taped suit hits all the high points in the Ann Arbor teen’s life right now.
Westerman will begin Ferris State’s Automotive Engineering Technology program this fall. Festooned with Brutus the Bulldog images, the tux also pays tribute to his idol, Japanese racing car driver Keiichi Tsuchiya. It includes a helmet, driving gloves and a 3D boutonniere incorporating a small racing trophy.
Yes, all made with the sticky adhesive tape.
“Thank you for making a tape strong enough to stick my dreams together,” Westerman wrote in his scholarship essay.
Westerman has been interested in cars since he was a boy. At Pioneer High School, his passion for car tuning — slang for modifying a vehicle to improve its handling and performance — kicked into high gear with classes like car repair and auto service technology.
So did his interest in the Japanese car racing scene.
He chose Ferris State for his bachelor’s degree in hopes of one day moving to Japan and securing an engineering role in performance motorsports.
“I did a lot of research on their automotive engineering technology program, the alumni that come out of Ferris, and what the program entailed,” he said. “Ferris just really stood out to me.”
When the 25th anniversary of the Stuck at Prom contest was announced this spring, it seemed like the perfect chance to, well, stick together all his ambitions.
But this isn’t the Westerman family’s first duct tape rodeo: Calder’s older brother, Vaughn, was a Stuck at Prom finalist in 2021.
“A little friendly competition here at the Westerman household as Calder not only is hoping to be a finalist, but place first in the tux category,” said Amber Westerman, his mother and duct-tape consultant.
Calder Westerman said he’s pleased with the way his suit turned out.
“Keiichi Tsuchiya always has this iconic green and silver helmet, green gloves and green suit,” he said. “I did my best to recreate it, but with my own Bulldog twist.”
Like any professional auto racer, the suit also includes a sponsor: Duck Tape.
A panel of judges will choose the top 10 finalists — five from the dress category and five from the tuxedo category — based on workmanship, use of colors, originality and use of Duck Tape in their designs.
Then online voters will have from June 25 to July 9 to select their favorite designs, helping to award the grand prize dress and tux winners $15,000 each. The eight runners-up will each receive $1,000, as well as three more prizes for judges’ choice awards.
Any prize money Westerman wins will help pay for his Ferris State education.
“It was a lot of painstakingly detailed work, but also a lot of fun,” Westerman said.