Awards announced at star-studded industry event
LIM College students Kaitlyn Leonard, Shannon Oriole, Elaina Price, Lindsay Smolinski and Courtney Vander Linden each received $5,000 scholarships during the YMA FSF Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner on January 8 at the Waldorf Astoria.
LIM College is one of only 41 educational institutions nationwide selected to participate in the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund competition. Other participating schools include Barnard College, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and Harvard University. Scholarships are awarded based entirely on merit, taking into consideration the applicants' GPAs, the completion of a case study project, a personal essay detailing their aspirations, work experience, community service, and an interview with a YMA FSF Ambassador.
In addition to the scholarship funds, the five students will receive internship placements at top fashion companies, where they will be matched with an executive mentor who will guide and assist them in networking with industry contacts.
The YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) is a national non-profit association consisting of influential members of the fashion community, dedicated to promoting education of the fashion arts and business by granting scholarships to talented students and facilitating internships, mentorships and career programs. 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.
The evening’s program was hosted by CNN national correspondent Alina Cho. At the dinner, Alber Elbaz, Lanvin’s artistic director, received the 50th Anniversary Geoffrey Beene Fashion Impact Award; former PVH president Allen Sirkin won a Lifetime Achievement Award; and Ross Stores CEO Michael Balmuth was on hand to accept the company’s Retailer of the Year Award.