PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Philadelphia University fashion design
senior Vivian Cooper was awarded the
first-ever $35,000 top award from a
national pool of 600 student designers at the prestigious YMA
Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship Awards Dinner Jan. 12 in New
York.
Marc Mastronardi, executive vice
president of business development at Macy's, announced the
unprecedented scholarship award for Cooper in front of a packed
ballroom of 1,500 fashion industry leaders, educators and
students.
"To see the YMA present its first-ever grand prize $35,000 scholarship award to Vivian was an
enormously proud moment for Philadelphia
University," said Sheila
Connelly, the University's fashion design program director.
"Vivian is the real deal–talented, smart, genuine and kind. She put
countless hours into this project, and this extraordinary honor is
well deserved."
Cooper and seven other YMA top finalists had to present to
judges a project focused on the future of sustainability in the
fashion industry. For her case study, Cooper created a
private-label junior's swim and beachwear line made from recycled
plastic bottles that could be used to create unique fabrics. The
fashion line also would engage communities to support
sustainability.
In addition to Cooper, seven additional PhilaU students won YMA
Fashion Scholarships of $5,000 each
in this year's competition: fashion design students Colton Snavely, Keren
Espina, Maria Balestino and
Emily DeBernardo and fashion
merchandising students Nicole Braun,
Zoe Wilson and Maddie Bill, who received the award for the
third straight year.
This year, some 600 YMA competitors represented leading
collegiate programs in fashion, merchandising and business
nationwide. PhilaU students historically have performed well in the
YMA scholarship program. Fashion alumni Casey Saccomanno '08 and Jessica Steele '09 each won top honors, and
Tia Pion '15 was a finalist. In
addition, dozens of PhilaU students have received $5,000 and $10,000
scholarships in recent years.
Philadelphia University, founded
in 1884, is a private university with 3,700 students enrolled in
more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs. As the model for
professional university education, the University, through its
award-winning Nexus Learning approach, prepares
students to be leaders in their professions in an active,
collaborative and real-world learning environment infused with the
liberal arts. Philadelphia University
includes the innovative Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and
Commerce; the College of Architecture and the Built Environment;
the College of Science, Health and the Liberal Arts and the School
of Continuing and Professional Studies. For more information, go
to www.PhilaU.edu.
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SOURCE Philadelphia University