Senior class council from left to right: Jaden Turner, president, Amaya Henry, vice president, Jayli Exceus-Asante, secretary, and Jayla Huntley-Murphy, treasurer, react to hearing that prom tickets will be free for students during a ceremony with the senior class announcing that Becca’s Closet and Macy’s donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. “I’ve been president since sophomore year, and…it made me feel relieved I had this weight lifted off my shoulders. I’m just grateful that everyone will get to experience something as big as prom,” said Turner. “The money from our balance is split between the remaining classes so it will continue to help in years to come.”

Senior class council from left to right: Jaden Turner, president, Amaya Henry, vice president, Jayli Exceus-Asante, secretary, and Jayla Huntley-Murphy, treasurer, react to hearing that prom tickets will be free for students during a ceremony with the senior class announcing that Becca’s Closet and Macy’s donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. “I’ve been president since sophomore year, and…it made me feel relieved I had this weight lifted off my shoulders. I’m just grateful that everyone will get to experience something as big as prom,” said Turner. “The money from our balance is split between the remaining classes so it will continue to help in years to come.”

Alie Skowronski

askowronski@miamiherald.com

Like many seniors at Davie’s Nova High School, Amaya Henry had prom on her mind.

Paying for a ticket wouldn’t be easy. But the Fort Lauderdale student got a big surprise when she went to a school assembly on Thursday morning.

Nova High’s prom was fully paid for thanks to a partnership between Bella’s Closet, a nonprofit, and Macy’s.

“It was a surprise, so we were completely shocked,” said Henry, 18. “It was a blessing that everyone will be able to go to prom. Many people have financial burdens outside of school, so it’s a blessing to have this paid for.”

From left to right: Principal Olayemi Awofadeju, Natasha Ramsey, senior class sponsor, Pam and Jay Kirtman from Becca's Closet, and Beatrice Coleman, a stylist at Macy's, pose with the senior class during a ceremony announcing that Becca's Closet and Macy's donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. From left to right: Principal Olayemi Awofadeju, Natasha Ramsey, senior class sponsor, Pam and Jay Kirtman from Becca’s Closet, and Beatrice Coleman, a stylist at Macy’s, pose with the senior class during a ceremony announcing that Becca’s Closet and Macy’s donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com

Becca’s Closet and Macy’s partnered to pay for Nova’s prom with a $65,000 donation. Nova is one of eight high schools that Macy’s Prom Fund will pay for this school year. Miami-Dade’s G. Holmes Braddock Senior High is another South Florida school that Macy’s just paid prom costs for through its fund.

“Prom is just one of those huge moments in a teen’s life, and it’s about those memories that they will create,” said Sam Di Scipio, senior director of social impact for Macy’s.

The fund has raised $600,000 to pay for high school proms and Di Scipio is hopeful it will get to the $1 million mark.

Becca’s Closet was started as a project by Nova High School student Rebecca Kirtman to help high students get dresses. Kirtman died in 2003 before she could graduate, and her mother Pam has helped keep her work alive.

Becca’s Closet donates dresses via a storefront at The Galleria mall in Fort Lauderdale. The nonprofit also has nearly 50 chapters throughout the United States.

Pam Kirtman, right, speaks to the senior class next to her husband, Jay, founders of Becca's Closet, named after their late daughter Rebecca, during a ceremony with the senior class announcing that Becca's Closet and Macy's donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. “It's not about a dress, it's about coming together,” reflected Jay. “Rebecca only went to one homecoming and every girl I give a dress to warms my heart.” Pam Kirtman, right, speaks to the senior class next to her husband, Jay, founders of Becca’s Closet, named after their late daughter Rebecca, during a ceremony with the senior class announcing that Becca’s Closet and Macy’s donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. “It’s not about a dress, it’s about coming together,” reflected Jay. “Rebecca only went to one homecoming and every girl I give a dress to warms my heart.” Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com

Helping Nova students matters so much more for Pam Kirtman. She worked at Nova for more than 20 years as a college advisor and had the goal of making its prom free since the day her daughter died.

Seeing Nova students get emotional after the announcement on Thursday affirmed her work.

“To see their joy and relief and excitement was so rewarding, exhilarating and a testament to Rebecca’s memory,” said Kirtman, 67. “She loved that school and her friends and celebrating with them. Now this will happen for free.”

Nova senior Jayla Huntley-Murphy, 18, was glad that all of her classmates can enjoy the prom without having to worry about the cost. Tickets were $225 last year, according to the school.

“Sometimes, kids can’t participate in things because of costs and now not only can they go to prom for free, but then they can go to Becca’s Closet and get a dress,” the Tamarac student said. “Being able to come together as a class for prom and take that concern away means the world.”

The senior class reacts to the news that their prom tickets would be free during a ceremony announcing that Becca’s Closet and Macy’s donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. “We weren’t hitting that mark [with fundraising]…and sometimes kids can’t participate in things because of cost and now not only can they go to prom for free, but then can go to Becca’s closet and get a dress. Being able to come together as a class for prom and take that concern away means the world,” said Jayla Huntley-Murphy, class treasurer. The senior class reacts to the news that their prom tickets would be free during a ceremony announcing that Becca’s Closet and Macy’s donated $65,000 so that prom would be free for students on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Nova High School in Davie, Fla. “We weren’t hitting that mark [with fundraising]…and sometimes kids can’t participate in things because of cost and now not only can they go to prom for free, but then can go to Becca’s closet and get a dress. Being able to come together as a class for prom and take that concern away means the world,” said Jayla Huntley-Murphy, class treasurer. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com


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Michael Butler

Miami Herald

Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.