LWPTSA Council was proud to present one of two You Rock! awards at our April 2026 membership meeting to Redmond High School PTSA in recognition of their incredible “Gowns Going Green” program!
This program began last year after learning that seniors needed to purchase brand-new gowns to participate in their graduation ceremony, only to wear them for a short time. To support both sustainability and equity, RHS PTSA Fundraising Chair and GGG Coordinator Neeta came up with the idea to collect and donate the graduation gowns. The PTSA collected gowns from previous alumni, sorted, inventoried, and stored them.
In its second year, the program expanded by soliciting gown donations from the class of 2025 over Thanksgiving break, knowing students would be home from college. The PTSA has already held two highly successful “Get-a-Gown” distribution days. Not only can graduating seniors choose a gown, but the event is open to all four grades to allow students to plan ahead.
Because RHS PTSA hopes this program is adopted by every high school in our district, they shared some valuable logistics and insights on how they make it happen:
- Collection & Storage: Gowns are collected in drop-boxes, then measured, rolled up, rubber-banded, tagged, and boxed. Since gowns don’t usually have size tags, they measure the length and width to assign general sizing (S, M, L, XL).
- Cleaning: The 100% polyester gowns are very durable and have remained remarkably clean, as they are worn for a short time over students’ own clothing.
- Caps & Tassels: Graduates often keep their caps and tassels as mementos, so RHS provides a separate option for families to purchase just the cap and tassel through the school.
- Accessibility: The PTSA created a dedicated website detailing the project and providing a current inventory for students and families.
LWPTSA Council is thrilled to recognize Redmond High School PTSA for their innovative approach to supporting their students and the earth.
Congratulations, RHS PTSA! Learn more about our You Rock! awards.
