Three Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) students are recipients of the 2013 YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) awards. Ziyan Gong, a Fashion Design student from Staten Island, NY, and Fashion Merchandising Management majors Alexis Katsafanas from Allison Park, PA, and Daniel Mendez from Madrid, Spain, each received a $5,000 scholarship grant at the nonprofit association’s annual YMA FSF Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner, held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on January 8.Katsafanas, Mendez, and Gong were awarded their merit-based grants after review of their GPAs, the completion of a case study project; a personal essay detailing their aspirations, their job, and community service experience; how they plan to utilize their scholarship money; and an interview with a YMA FSF Ambassador. FSF selected 130 students from across the country to receive this year’s awards.
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. The YMA FSF Scholarship Fund, established in 1971, has awarded over $7 million in scholarships to more than 800 students nationwide.
FIT is a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology, with a wide range of programs that are affordable and relevant to today’s rapidly changing industries. The college offers more than 45 majors leading to the AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees.