Minnesota Prairie Roots

Sean dances the night away in his homemade kilt at a 70s disco style prom in Wasilla, Alaska.

MENTION WASILLA, ALASKA, and most folks automatically think “Sarah Palin.”

Mention Wasilla to me, and I’ll tell you about my nephew, Sean. He attends Matanuska-Susitna Career and Technical High School there. And recently, this soon-to-be-graduate went to prom dressed in a Scottish kilt. What’s even more impressive, Sean, who is of partial Scottish descent, sewed his attire from Scottish McLain tartan fabric. He’s an accomplished seamster.

Now, 100 percent German that I am, I know very little about kilts, tartan fabrics or Scotland.

But Sean clearly values his heritage. “Sean is proud of his heritage because he knows the Scottish are hard-working, resourceful and tenacious people who have the ability to survive on nothing but passion,” his mom, Rena, says.

She calls him “an unabashed prom pioneer” for choosing to wear something other than the traditional prom suit.

I’ve got to hand it to my nephew. He’s one self-confident and brave young man to go solo to prom wearing a skirt.

© Text copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Photos courtesy of Rena Helbling