Four fashion design majors in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Design were awarded scholarships by the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF), an international nonprofit organization composed of influential members of the fashion industry.
Annie Carson ’19 was one of three YMA 2018 National Merit Scholarship finalists who received at $30,000 scholarship. She was also invited to represent YMA FSF and present at the World Retail Congress in Madrid, Spain, in April. The three-day forum brings together global retail industry leaders for a program that features senior retail speakers as well as leading industry stakeholders from global economics, politics, finance and NGOs.
Carson qualified for the National Merit Scholarship competition after winning a $5,000 YMA FSF scholarship in 2017 and being nominated by her faculty. Earlier this year she presented the case study she submitted for the competition to the FSF Executive Committee, which then determined if she would be awarded a $10,000 or $30,000 scholarship.
YMA FSF also announced that fashion design majors Hailey Bennett ’18, Lawren Cappelletti ’18, and Amy Le ’19 each won a $5,000 scholarship. These scholarships are based entirely on merit, taking into consideration the applicant’s GPA, the completion of a case study project, a personal essay and an interview with a YMA FSF ambassador.
All of the scholars were honored in January at the YMA FSF gala in New York City, which is attended by fashion industry executives.
Founded in 1937, the FSF’s goal is to advance the fashion industry by encouraging gifted and enterprising young people to pursue careers in design, merchandising, retailing and business so the industry will continue to attract dedicated, capable and creative individuals.