Each year, every student chapter may name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, or society.
By Manisha Patel, AATCC Senior Membership Associate
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. This year AATCC presented each chapter award recipient with a certificate, copy of the book Color Vision and Technology, and official AATCC graduation cord. Awardees also receive one year of free membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
Rebecca Dillenberger majors in Textile Development & Marketing department at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She received the Global Scholar Award to study abroad in Peru in the Winter 2023 International Trade Practicum program where she will focus her field work on the sustainability and economics of the Peruvian alpaca farming industry. She also received the President’s Sustainability Grant to expand FIT’s Natural Dye Garden (May 2022). This grant was used to support better yield and growing practices to serve the hyper-local urban environment. Dillenberger was awarded the Department of Student Life Executive Board Member of the Year Award for outstanding leadership in the AATCC FIT Chapter (May 2022) and the James I. Spiegel Dean’s Award for outstanding merit in the TDM AAS program (May 2021).
Dillenberger worked on revitalizing the natural dye garden on FIT campus’ rooftop. She grew and harvested 11 to 28 different species, including native New York City and pollinator types. She has worked to make this resource accessible to over 100 students across all majors and disciplines. She has hosted dyeing workshops and tours to demonstrate the importance of connecting process with product.
She is the President of the (AATCC) FIT Chapter, Student Government Senator for Textile Development and Marketing and Sustainability Committee member, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council member.
Afifa Farooq will receive a degree of BS in Textile Sciences in Aug 2023. She stands among the top three students of her class out of 70 students. In the COVID-19 break, she took online certification classes in 3D printing software (University of Illinois) and sustainable fashion (Copenhagen Business School) in addition to her academic studies. She created a sustainable bag during her internship, using denim swatches that are typically thrown away. She has always taken part in extracurricular activities without letting them interfere with her academic performance. During her academic career, she also worked for the community by planting trees and collecting garbage from the vicinity of the university.
Due to her intense passion for creative work, she started her career with the AATCC NED student chapter in her first year as a member of the creativity team. Her dedication, good writing, and communication abilities helped her get the job of Head of Content in 2022. She provided content writing services as the Head of Content for Facebook posts on the AATCC NED chapter Facebook page. She used relevant keywords to boost the articles’ visibility on the page and prepared reports for organized events. She was elected as Vice President of the Chapter in 2023. During her tenure as Vice President, she contributed to the design of the AATCC NED Chapter booth at the 5th International Textile Conference. She was also phenomenal in arranging the fundraising event for the Flood Victims of Pakistan, in which PKR 30,000 were collected by selling hand-made knitted/printed articles made by the students of Textile Engineering Department, NEDUET.
Becca Ziegler will receive a BS in Apparel Design with a minor in Organizational Leadership from Oregon State University. She received the AATCC Western Regional Scholarship for two years along with four other scholarships. Ziegler also studied Fashion Design in Florence, Italy, with the Academia Italiana study abroad program. She had a summer internship as a Design Intern at the Children’s Place and recently completed an internship as a Digital Materials Specialist with Browzwear. Ziegler is now a marketing intern for a local digital marketing and web design agency.
Ziegler is currently the AATCC Student Chapter President at Oregon State. She brings a high level of organizational skills to this position. The combination of these skills along with her ease in making students feel welcome show in officers meetings, fashion show planning, committee assignments, and the full calendar of activities that keep the club thriving. She represents the AATCC chapter as a student club officer at College of Business events such as career fairs, leadership conferences, and student recruitment.
Ziegler also volunteers with Young Life as a student leader and is planning a service trip to the Dominican Republic during spring break.
Brianna O’Doherty is a student majoring in fashion merchandising and management at the University of Delaware, with a deep interest in textiles. She has consistently investigated sustainable fabrics and processes through her projects in the two foundation textile classes, achieving high grades, placing her at the top of her class. Through her Certificate of Design & Creative Making program, and its ‘From Ideas to Action’ course, O’Doherty gained a detailed understanding of how to build a business from the ground up, and how to take something from an idea to industry practice. She plans to use what she learned in social entrepreneurship to influence the business decisions she will make in the future, whether it will be for her own company or a company she will work for, becoming the transformational type of leader that the fashion and textile industry needs.
As the Vice President of Fashion x Textiles at the AATCC student chapter at University of Delaware, O’Doherty has been involved in planning and organizing several member events, such as a macrame water bottle holder workshop, a clothing swap, etc. Her optimistic energy and cheerfulness has positively impacted the growing body of new student memberships.
Kristine Vivanco has shown significant dedication and achievement in both the academic and creative facets of the Fashion Merchandising and Design Major at Virginia Tech. Apart from being the Vice President of the AATCC chapter at Virginia Tech, she has also been a Teaching Assistant in textile courses and has conducted undergraduate research on consumer behavior. Vivanco has experience in designing merchandise for the university as well as social media promotion for the 2023 Virginia Tech Fashion Show. She has maintained a high GPA through her hard work and eternal love for fashion.
As Vice President of the AATCC chapter, Vivanco is an avid activity coordinator and organizer who values community and meaningful leadership. She has planned and supplied materials for her chapter to execute group activities related to textiles. She has also established interpersonal connections within her chapter to maintain enthusiasm and excitement toward learning and experimenting with textiles.
By Manisha Patel, AATCC Senior Membership Associate
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. This year AATCC presented each chapter award recipient with a certificate, copy of the book Color Vision and Technology, and official AATCC graduation cord. Awardees also receive one year of free membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
Jessica Trippiedi began her career at FIT in 2017 with a degree in Technical Design and minor in Ethics & Sustainability. While working in industry, Trippiedi witnessed the negative effects of fast fashion and decided to re-enroll at FIT to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Textile Development & Marketing (TDM) with a focus on textile science and entrepreneurship. Her goal is to find a solution for the second most polluting industry at its source.
Trippiedi is currently the Events Coordinator for the AATCC FIT student chapter. As a student chapter officer, she has increased student memberships and visibility for the chapter. She is a recipient of the Fibrous Materials Scholarship and was a second place finalist for the AATCC “Pitch It to Win It” competition. Recently, Trippiedi has been nominated by her professors to be accepted into the 2022 MITxFIT Workshop sponsored by the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA).
She is utilizing her studies from the TDM program to co-found her next venture in the femtech space; her motto is to protect our two homes: our bodies and our planet. By reimagining the female period experience, she has created a natural alternative pain relief solution that is designed for all menstruators. Fabricated in the TDM labs, within four short months she has created a testable prototype. Throughout this past fall semester, she has traveled and presented at multiple pitch competitions, while representing FIT and showcasing her expertise within the industry.
Alp Kulaksizoglu is studying Materials Science and Engineering—Polymer & Fiber Materials at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Kulaksizoglu has kept a 4.0 GPA and received Faculty Honors every semester at Georgia Tech while undertaking multiple research assignments in a voluntary role. He has completed a Minor in Computational Data Analysis and received the Hightower and Stribling Scholarships from the School of MSE at Georgia Tech.
Kulaksizoglu is a staff leader at GA Techs Materials Innovation and Learning Laboratory (MILL), A member of MSE’s student organization and created a School Canvas website, M5. He also started an “MSE at Georgia Tech” LinkedIn group, with over 150 members, to help students, faculty, and staff expand their networks.
Rylee Moore will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design. A transfer student to Oregon State University, she overcame first-year challenges with determination and persistence. She recently completed a competitive summer internship with a national corporation where she excelled in her role. Moore is also a Teaching Assistant in the School of Marketing, Analytics & Design.
For more than two years, Moore served as the Chair of the AATCC Student Chapter at Oregon State University and has been a champion for the club. Moore is a gracious leader who kept the chapter organized and accessible during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the first year of the pandemic, the university went remote, and all in-person activities were canceled. It was unclear how the chapter would operate. However, under Moore’s leadership, the chapter thrived. In place of the planned in person fashion show, Moore initiated the creation of a digital look-book for the apparel student designs. The chapter organized guest speakers from industry who spoke on topics related to sustainability, movie collaborations, and New York designers’ calendars. As the remote work period extended, Moore hosted numerous activities and produced a second look-book. The chapter is now working on bringing back the spring fashion show. Moore has earned the respect of faculty for her dedication and outreach. Moore is a College of Business Student Leader for the AATCC chapter and apparel design students. She hosts information sessions, events, and attends all welcoming programs for new and transfer students into the college. Her tireless energy, optimism, and cheerfulness has kept the AATCC chapter vibrant and growing with new memberships.
Michelle Yatvitskiy has dedicated herself academically as a research scholar in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies working on a variety of impactful research. She participated in Summer Scholars and worked with faculty member Adriana Gorea on researching how 3d software like Clo3D software can help designers in visualizing, developing, and communicating design details of a seamless knitted garments. She participated as student researcher in a collaborative project with the chemical engineering and athletics department where she aided in designing, patterning, and sewing a glove prototype with new STF padding for the UD football to improve impact performance. Lastly, over the past year she worked with faculty members Kelly Cobb and Huantian Cao on reclaiming the value of end of use cotton products by creating textiles and products from post-consumer textile waste using tufting, weaving, felting, quilting, and knitting techniques.
Yatvitskiy has been part of the AATCC Student Chapter since 2018, when she was part of a group of freshman designer majors that worked together to rekindle the student chapter. They collaborated on recreating the constitution, creating budgets, and recruiting new members. Yatvitskiy served as treasurer for three years where she created budgets, secured funding, and performed any of the monetary transactions. However, she went above and beyond her role and actively participated in planning and hosting many of the AATCC events like a group tufting workshop and many guest speaker events. This fall, Yatvitskiy helped plan and led an AATCC student felting workshop, demonstrating how to use the felt loom and helping participants create their own felted wall art.
Emmy Alvis is a Fashion Merchandising and Design major and minoring in Event and Experience Management at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). She is the President of the AATCC Virginia Tech Student Chapter and plans meetings and chapter events, and recruits new members. She served as Director of Programming for her dorm freshman year. Alvis’ approachable and friendly personality made her the perfect candidate to get other students involved in activities, while her organized manner made her the perfect candidate to plan programs. She also joined the Fashion Merchandising Society her freshman year.
Alvis enrolled in Introduction to Textiles and Apparel Textiles Laboratory courses and was outstanding in identifying the structures and properties of textile components. She was invited by faculty advisor Jessie Chen-Yu to serve as a teaching assistant (TA) in the Apparel Textile Lab. She was a responsible, trustworthy and diligent TA with good knowledge and attitude. Her work is always completed on time with high quality. Ranked second out of thirty students, maintaining a 3.98 University GPA, Alvis also balanced intramural sports and campus ministry along with her full class schedule. She is talented, tough, and laser-focused.
Molly Pruett is a Polymer and Color Chemistry major at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Wilson College of Textiles. She consistently performs at or above her peer group in her coursework in the polymer and color chemistry program.
Pruett is currently the President of the AATCC NCSU Student Chapter, but has served in multiple roles with the chapter. Leading a student organization can be challenging during ideal circumstances, but even more so with everything needing to be virtual. Over the last year, she worked diligently with the other students to ensure that the chapter continued to meet regularly in a virtual capacity due to the ongoing pandemic.
By Manisha Patel, AATCC Student & Corporate Member Specialist
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement
and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. This year AATCC presented each chapter award recipient with a certificate and a copy of the book Color Vision and Technology. Awardees also receive one year of free membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
Jordan Crooks is a Materials Science and Engineering student. Crooks competed a Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer 2019 and a prestigious Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship with Argonne Laboratory. He has also taken graduate level courses as an undergraduate. Crooks is an outstanding theorist and researcher and can clearly communicate his research projects to interested laymen.
Crooks has also conducted research with minimal direction, advancing a project at the graduate level. In addition, he was able to assist and mentor other undergraduates with fibers research projects.
Jay Agpaoa Jr. studied Apparel Merchandising Management/ Productions. Agpaoa has been on the Dean’s list for two consecutive years and has received several scholarships.
Agpaoa has been able to go beyond his academics by applying his knowledge at various internships and experiences. His internship class has landed him a career in technical design at a company located in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Agpaoa committed himself to multiple extracurriculars within Cal Poly Pomona’s Apparel Merchandising
and Management Association (AMMA). For AATCC, the club held a booth at the school’s Pumpkin Festival to raise funds to financially support students participating in student competitions.
Along with being an AATCC SoCal Bronco member, Agpaoa has been involved with other clubs such as Fashion Society as a student designer and AMMA as an event volunteer. In August of 2020, he was recognized and given the Faculty and Staff Distinctive Service Award for his time and efforts dedicated to the department.
Nayab Naeem will be graduating with a BS in Textile Science. Naeem started her academic career with a bang by acquiring the highest GPA amongst her peers in first year. In her academic career, Naeem managed to secure a scholarship for herself through sheer brilliance. She is well-rounded, outstanding in her studies as well as in maintaining the presence of a social butterfly. She is well known for her creativity and inspiring passion. She has enthusiasm to learn, asks thoughtful questions in class, and is a model for other students. She also has served as a mentor for different organizations and student chapters of various societies at NEDUET. Naeem did not let the pressure of all her extracurricular activities push her down and graduated as one of the top ten students of her class.
Naeem began her journey with the AATCC NED Student Chapter in her second year as an eminent member of the creativity team. Due to her dedication and leadership skills, she secured the post of Deputy General Security and then took the lead as the President of the chapter during 2019-2020. Naeem, during her tenure, did more for the chapter than anyone could. She arranged fun and learning activities like Gala des color, created ideas for marketing and promotional drives, and managed a team of 50 members working for the same cause. She also represented the AATCC NED Chapter in the 3rd International Textile Conference lTC’20. In addition, she also arranged different webinars, graphics workshops, and textile-related online short courses facilitated by well-known industrial specialists. She introduced the concept of online courses for the very first time in the history of AATCC NED Chapter during this pandemic situation, which proved to be a success and provided the students with advanced knowledge on various subjects relating to textiles, making their quarantine productive.
Josephine “Josie” Cranfill will graduate with a degree in Polymer & Color Chemistry Science with an Operations Concentration and a Spanish Minor. Her ability to apply her knowledge, specifically in the textile areas, is exceptional. She demonstrates this each day with her work in the North Carolina State University (NCSU) Pilot Lab. Putting her knowledge into practice is where Cranfill’s understanding of textile chemistry principles really shines.
Cranfill has completely dedicated herself to the service of the university and the AATCC Student Chapter. Whether it was her role as her class’s representative, a university student ambassador, the founder of an organization focused on healthcare and sanitary needs for women experiencing homelessness, or as president of the student chapter, she has given so much of her time to serve, help, and mentor others. Her work with the NCSU AATCC Student Chapter helped to significantly increase the active membership outside of the chemistry majors and reach students in the apparel and fashion majors. Through her service, she has had an impact on hundreds of students during her time at the university.
Cami Hecht will be graduating with a Fashion Merchandising and Management degree. Hecht is a leader, is very creative, adds value to class discussions, and she exhibits good time management skills as evidenced by her high GPA. She pushes herself to go above and beyond and employs critical thinking. Hecht has gained industry experience by working as a marketing intern at Sammi Beatrice and Anthropologie.
Hecht has participated in the AATCC C2C Student Design competition. She brought awareness of AATCC to her fellow students through her participation in the student competition. She has also participated in National Retail Federation and the Fashion Scholarship Fund competitions. In addition to her studies and participation in industry competitions, she is a Resident Assistant for the University.
Megan Wolfe’s degree will be in Fashion Merchandising. Wolfe has made alliances between fashion, entrepreneurship, and regional agriculture through the lens of sustainability. Wolfe has conducted advanced research in sustainable textiles and has made great strides in commercialization of sustainable product development. Wolfe will be continuing as a Masters’ student at the University of Delaware.
Wolfe has been an active student chapter member are meetings and workshops. She has contributed to the student chapter by shining a light on opportunities to engage in projects focusing on sustainability and sustainable textile engineering, such as her work with mushroom-based textiles.
Kimberly Culver is a Fashion Merchandising and Design student. Culver has maintained an excellent grade point average while also holding leadership roles in clubs and organizations on campus. She has been on the Dean’s Student List every semester at Virginia Tech. In addition, she was a teaching assistant for a textile lab class. She was selected to serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) because she had one of the highest grades in that class when she took it. She recently applied for a student research assistant position with the FMD Department costume collection and was selected for the role.
Culver was appointed to multiple leadership positions throughout college including Co-President of the Fashion Merchandising and Design Society (FMDS) and President of the AATCC Student Chapter at Virginia Tech. Each year she helped organize the annual fashion shows held by FMDS as a stager or designer. As President of the AATCC Student Chapter, she collaborated with FMDS by communicating to members that showed interest in the club. She gave a presentation about the student chapter at an FMDS meeting.
By Manisha Patel, AATCC Student & Corporate Member Specialist
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. This year AATCC presented each chapter award recipient with a certificate, a copy of the 2019 AATCC Technical Manual, and a copy of the book Color Vision and Technology. Awardees also receive one year of free membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
Lysa Alona Vladyslavivna is a fashion design major and museum studies minor. She is proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Modaris, and Kaleido. Additionally, she has learned hand illustration, hand and machine sewing, pattern making, grading, draping, and electronic textiles. She has participated in fashion shows as both a model and designer. She has participated in several Threads fashion show events that complement her academic credentials. Her design was accepted for the Butterfly Effect Design Competition. She has completed an internship with Anastasia Chatza in Chicago during the summer of 2019. She has also been involved with several volunteer activities.
Vladyslavivna is the current president of the AATCC student chapter. Under her leadership, the student chapter promoted their activities on social media and organized several meetings that focused on knitting, e-textiles, potato printing, and freezer bag printing activities in the fall semester along with a CAD contest. During the spring semester, she assisted the student chapter in planning activities including embroidery, knitting, tour of the lab, a competition on fabric embellishment, and a research presentation. Vladyslavivna also oversaw all meetings, conducted some, and recruited speakers from other members.
Gabriella Schoenbeck will be receiving her BS in materials science and engineering, polymeric materials concentration with a minor in chemistry. Schoenbeck has enthusiasm to learn, asks thoughtful questions in class, and is a model for other students. Schoenbeck chose to do co-op and internships in order to apply what she has learned in the academic classroom and laboratory and completed co-op projects which best employed the coursework she learned in the concentration. She also has served as a mentor to undergraduates as a leader in lab work and senior capstone design work. Schoenbeck is currently researching disperse dyeing of biodegradable polymers which involves coloration, color measurement, and dye recipe formulations.
Since first attending California State Polytechnic University, Pomona three years ago, Jessica DeGard has achieved the Dean’s List every semester, being invited to become a member of the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture, while working in a career-related field as a visual merchandiser. She is pursuing a major in apparel merchandising and management with an apparel retailing option. DeGard was accepted in the Target Leadership Mentor Program, allowing her the invaluable hands-on experience in the workplace environment. She continued to increase her knowledge by earning the position as a Research Assistant for the Apparel Merchandising and Management Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
As an executive board member of the AATCC Socal Broncos Student Chapter in Cal Poly Pomona, DeGard has served the chapter as agriculture representative. Through this role, she has helped the club maintain communication with the college, stay up to date on school events, and inform the club of new information. This fall 2019, she helped coordinate the AATCC club food drive to be donated to the school’s Poly Pantry and server for the annual Pumpkin Festival. She did an excellent job this year to help maintain the club reputation and image in the College of Agriculture Student Council and the club’s executive board.
The student chapter awardee at Florida State University (FSU) is Sophia Isaac. She is majoring in retail entrepreneurship with a concentration in product development. Based on her excellence in the classroom, Isaac has been offered many opportunities within the textile and apparel industry. Not only does she have a stellar GPA, she stands out in the classroom, leading to recognition by her professors. Her professor says, “I was very impressed with Isaac in the Introduction to Textiles class and based on her expressed interest and academic record, offered her a volunteer opportunity within the Textile Testing Laboratory to shadow and assist with hands on industry testing services.” She has also interned with FSU’s professional clothing closet and most recently, as a buyer with Burlington Stores in Burlington, NJ, USA. Isaac is very organized and communicates well with others. She is now demonstrating the skills she has developed within the classroom within the textile and apparel industry.
Isaac served as the 2019 President of the AATCC Student Chapter at FSU. She organized and planned all meetings, promoted engagement within the textile industry, and prepared new fundraising strategies to support the fall fashion show for which she was the director. She oversaw the art and production teams, negotiated with show vendors, and created the overall concept for the show. She has also taken on leadership roles across campus as a campus recreation brand ambassador involving social media marketing, and as a stylist for FSU’s Diverse World Fashion Magazine. Isaac is a leader in FSU’s retail entrepreneurship program and her service as President of the AATCC chapter was above and beyond her faculty advisors’ expectations. Facing a large budget deficit from the previous year’s leadership, she managed to raise significant funds in order to produce the annual fall fashion show again in 2019.
Shaina Futch is studying materials science and engineering (MSE), with a concentration in polymer and fiber materials. She has maintained a solid foundation in materials science and engineering. She has taken courses to expand her knowledge and applied her skill set to solve real-world problems in and out of the classroom. Futch has gone above and beyond expectations to hone her data analysis skills. When she realized her skills did not meet her personal expectations, she accepted a co-op position with Delta Air Lines as a data analysis on their Flight Operations Metrics Team. Through the co-op rotation, Futch was able to build her data analysis skills.
Futch served as “Characterization Team Member” of Materials Innovation and Learning Laboratory (MILL). MILL is a student-operated innovation facility within Georgia Tech’s MSE. It is operated by voluntary student leaders like AATCC student members. Futch’s leadership role in MILL involved training new users on characterization equipment such X-ray diffraction equipment, Leica microscope FTIR, Profilometer, and SEM. She met with other leaders of MILL to review biweekly progress and discuss how to make the MILL a more useful space for students.
Futch was an active participant in the Georgia Tech Marching Band. She participated in band rehearsals, actual game day displays, pep rallies, and spirit band events. Futch’s other service-oriented activities involved serving as student assistant in multiple labs—Rheology, Polymer Physics, Fiber Product Manufacturing, and Materials Characterization. She also served as a voluntary TA to help several struggling students to successfully navigate tough courses.
Usama Noorani with his sheer determination stood 1st among 30 students throughout his academic years at University. He was the gold medalist with a BS in textile sciences. Thanks to his determination and eagerness to learn, he was nominated, along with nine other students, to represent his school in the semester exchange program to Tianjin Polytechnic University, China, for four months. During his visit, he didn’t let the new environment affect his academics and outshone other students by achieving brilliant scores in all subjects.
Noorani has been a dedicated and loyal member of the AATCC Student Chapter since the start of his undergraduate studies. He has always been brilliant in organizing and managing events. These qualities assisted him to become deputy of event management as early as his second year and his performance led to his promotion as the head of logistics. Noorani’s diverse experience and his excellent team leading skills along with communication, multi-tasking, and quick decision-making skills helped him become the President of AATCC NED Chapter in 2019. During his tenure, the chapter organized events like an orientation session, futsal (indoor soccer) tournament, and a career seminar. He also organized the first women’s badminton tournament, CV Writing Workshop for the graduating class, and a “Brains at War” quiz tournament, which was a fun learning activity for the students in the department.
The student chapter awardee at North Carolina State University is Rebekah Busick. She is a polymer and color chemistry major with an American Chemical Society Certification concentration. From an academic perspective, Busick consistently performs in the top 5-10% of her peers. In the classroom, she quickly masters concepts and excels at explaining the complicated theories on a fundamental level. In courses specific to the textile industry, her understanding of the concepts is furthered by her experience working at Cotton Incorporated and in academic research labs.
Busick has served as the social media/communications chair for the AATCC student chapter. She took leadership over setting up a social media account for the student chapter and has maintained it this year by providing informational posts to recruit students to the chapter meetings.
April Davenport is studying apparel design and merchandising management and is a thoughtful and earnest student. She is a member of the OSU College of Business Dean’s Academy. This is a select group of students that have enriched activities in leadership training and enrollment in smaller cohort honors classes. Davenport is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the national honor society that promotes excellent scholarship, good character, and service. She also has received numerous scholarships to continue her education.
Davenport is a wonderful representative for Oregon State University and the design program at OSU. She is always willing to help other students’ network and is a great example of how to use all opportunities for growth and experience. She is an advocate for people with disabilities and was instrumental in creating an adaptive focus in the annual spring fashion show that is organized by the AATCC Student Chapter at OSU. She was one of the founding members of the three-year-old, AATCC Student Chapter and worked on the organization of the club and recruiting members.
The student chapter awardee for Thomas Jefferson University is Bryce Peckman who is majoring in textile materials technology with a concentration in sustainability. Peckman’s advisor says she is academically one of the strongest students they have had to date. She is always prepared, asks thought provoking questions, researches topics thoroughly, and presents the information found in her research clearly and with enthusiasm. She is strong in many textile subjects, and most noteworthy are her chemistry skills.
The Jefferson AATCC Student chapter has recently seen its most active student members graduate and is again trying to build momentum and develop more ongoing activities. Peckman has been active, attending chapter events and showing serious interest in continuing her membership in the Association after graduation.
Carmen Mosnia is a textiles and apparel, technical and functional design major. She has been an excellent and engaged student. She has also interned as a fashion illustrator. Mosnia helped the AATCC chapter blossom and acquire several members.
In the past, Mosnia was the social media coordinator and recently has taken over event organizing and graphics, while still being in charge of social media. She is also a part of the SOHE (School of Human Ecology) mentoring committee. She helps mentees pair with mentors to teach about the school and their major.
Chera Longfritz is a double major in fashion merchandising and design and creative writing. She has received all highest grades in her textile courses at Virginia Tech. Because of her outstanding performance in the textile courses, Longfritz was selected to serve as a Teaching Assistant for the Apparel Textile Lab course for two semesters, where she aided students’ studies. In Fall 2018, Longfritz was an intern for the Blacksburg High School teaching department and assisted in two senior-level English courses. Additionally, she has been published multiple times in the school’s literary magazine, “Silhouette.”
Longfritz has been the President of Virginia Tech’s AATCC Student Chapter since Fall 2018. She has spent most of her time working with Hokie women to establish safe spaces and improve Virginia Tech’s diversity and inclusion policies. Longfritz has devoted time to working with Montgomery County’s Delegate Chris Hurst to correct Title IX laws for Virginia colleges, and plans to keep uplifting women in her future. She has also served as the Editor-in-Chief for Virginia Tech’s “Her Campus” magazine from Spring 2017-Spring 2019, and through her work with this organization, she received the Outstanding Organization of the Year Award for the 2018-2019 school year.
By Manisha Patel, AATCC Student & Corporate Member Specialist
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. This year AATCC presented each chapter award recipient with a certificate, a copy of the 2018 AATCC Technical Manual, and a copy of the book Color Vision and Technology. Awardees also receive one year of free membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
Clemson University’s awardee, Jared (Jay) Smolens, is majoring in Materials Science & Engineering, with a Polymer concentration and minoring in Chemistry. His academic strengths lie in implementing what he has learned in the classroom in the laboratory setting. His enthusiasm for materials science and engineering is evident as he mentors new students and promotes materials science and engineering with visitors.
Smolens has served the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in multiple ways as an undergraduate. As a laboratory assistant in the MSE Analytical Facility, he has become proficient in the analysis of textile/polymer based materials using FTIR, TGA , DSC, Fiber ID stain, and microscopy techniques for service work performed for industrial clients, as well as for research support for various groups in the College of Engineering. Smolens has mentored and taught other undergraduate student employees as they onboard in the analytical lab. He has also been an invaluable student for the MSE department serving on multiple Search and Screen Committees, including those for the Chair of MSE and for the Student Program Manager position. As an MSE Ambassador, Smolens has provided weekly tours and demonstrations to general engineering students as part of the MSE student recruiting process.
The Central Michigan University Student Chapter awardee is Julianna Saad, a Fashion Design major and Art minor. Saad is an excellent student. She is conscientious, dedicated, hardworking, and brilliant. She is involved in both student organizations of the department. She is a budding professional who is committed to train herself as a well-rounded professional and extend opportunities to other students.
Her creative skills extend to her leadership role as president of the AATCC student chapter at Central Michigan University. Saad has done a great job as president of the student chapter. During her tenure, she has improved the visibility of the chapter by having her team create an aesthetically pleasing board that informs the membership of upcoming events and provides information on how to become a member of the AATCC student chapter. She is a creative leader who has a great ability to engage attendees in creative endeavors. The student chapter holds meetings on a regular basis and plans for events for the forthcoming semester.
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Student Chapter award recipient is Louise Ford, who is majoring in Textile Development and Marketing with minors in Ethics & Sustainability, and Economics. Ford has taken on many projects, including her position as a leader of the Textile Ocean Plastics Pollution Initiative, which was set to educate peers of the detriments of textile microfiber pollution in waterways. She has also achieved Dean’s List throughout her career in the Textile Development and Marketing department, while balancing internships and her position as an officer in the AATCC FIT Student Chapter. Most recently, she worked with students from the Jean School in Amsterdam in an exchange program, where she had the opportunity to learn hands-on about the denim industry. When she graduates this May, Ford hopes to obtain a job in the denim industry, focusing on sustainable practices.
Ford currently holds the position of vice president of Events in the AATCC student chapter, where she sets up bi-weekly meetings, and plans/coordinates all fundraisers and events. In addition, she also runs the rooftop dye garden where the department sources a variety of natural dyes. Here, Ford gets students involved by holding events to clean up the garden, plant seeds, and harvest the garden. The plants are harvested to dye tote bags for the club to sell at one of the most popular fundraisers. This past Fall, Ford hosted Knitting: Hats Against Hate, where students were taught how to hand knit hats for children in the hospital. Ford is currently planning the student chapter trip to a warp-knitting factory and/or a woolen mill.
Jessica Bachansingh, the recipient of the Student Chapter Award for Florida State University (FSU) is graduating with a Retail Merchandising and Product Development major along with three Entrepreneurship minors in Commercial, Social, and Retail. Outside of the classroom, she has competed in several scholarships and has won over $30,000 in funds. She has competed in the Runway of Dreams Fashion For All Student Competition and was the first place winner receiving a scholarship of $5000. Bachansingh shared her experiences at the Gala and how her mindset has drastically changed about accessibility within the fashion industry. She has constantly worked hard to excel within her field outside of the classroom from competing in weekend case competitions to starting her very own nonprofit that teaches young women in Ethiopia how to sew.
Bachansingh was the FSU AATCC Student Chapter president in the Fall semester of 2017. During her time in this role, she helped orchestrate the yearly fashion show with the theme of sustainability. She led 20 creative students to obtain donated clothing that would otherwise go into landfills to create new garments. With nearly 45 looks that walked the runway, 150 people in the audience, and over 50 people on the fashion show team, it was a success! She also led a trip to the Atlanta Apparel Mart, where students got to speak directly with wholesalers and learn about the buying process. She led a partnership with Cotton Incorporated for a semester-long community service project to collect denim that is eventually recycled into insulation for housing. With a goal of 500 pairs donated, the AATCC chapter exceeded their goal and brought awareness to recycling processes for denim and clothing in general.
Georgia Institute of Technology’s Student Chapter awardee is Carolyn Stanek. After completing her BS in Materials Science Engineering- Polymers and Fiber Materials this spring, Stanek will begin pursuing a Masters in Material Science at Georgia Tech. During her summer sessions, Stanek has spent her time working in corporate and manufacturing engineering roles at Procter & Gamble and Corning Inc. Across these internships, she developed electrochemical corrosion experimentation, conducted industrial hygiene studies of volatile organic compounds, independently developed VBA sorting macros, and led a Six-Sigma DESGN project to improve the current multimode fiber optic product. Currently, Stanek works with 3M to conduct diffusivity measurements of solvents through PVC film using FTIR methods. Outside of class, her biggest achievements have been with the Georgia Tech Mock Trial team — an organization that simulates litigation for both civil and criminal trials. For three years in a row, her team has placed in the top twenty teams in the nation, and she has won individual awards for Outstanding Performance for public speaking and advocacy.
Stanek actively participates in Georgia Tech’s Women In Engineering programs; for three years, she’s developed relationships with younger Material Science Engineering students in their mentoring program. This involved scheduling assistance and networking guidance. She served as the lead ambassador for Corning Inc.’s student recruiting efforts since May 2018. This included organizing, budgeting, and hosting information sessions, where she led presentations on the opportunities at Corning and answered questions to 30+ attendees. In addition to spreading the word about the company and its culture, Stanek also worked to make direct connections between Corning and the younger talent at Georgia Tech. She was responsible for coordinating email communication between interested students and company reps and collecting and screening resumes. She continues to serve as a main point-of-contact for the incoming intern class.
The student chapter awardee for Govt. College University Faisalabad is Nimra Amin who is majoring in Applied Chemistry/Color Chemistry. She has been involved in research activities since 2017 in textile/color chemistry. Amin has published two research papers in the Journal of Natural Fibers and is currently writing a book chapter on “Insect Derived Natural Anthraquinones for Textile Dyeing,” which will be published by Springer. Her research topic is “Influence of Microwave Radiation on Isolation of Colorant from Lac Animals for Silk and Wool dyeing.” Amin is also collaborating in the UNESCO funded project for the application of plant-derived colorants onto natural fabrics. She has attended five different events (international and national) and participated actively to represent her work.
Jacqueline Bartolo at Thomas Jefferson University is the recipient of the student chapter award. She majors in Textile Materials Technology with a concentration in Sports and High Performance Materials. She has excelled in all her course work while maintaining an active life on campus. She is the current secretary of the AATCC student chapter, co-president of the Phi Psi Fraternity, co-correspondent for Her Campus organization, and serves with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Bartolo is organized, inquisitive, a quick learner with excellent analytical skills, and a self-starter. She has been involved in several interdisciplinary industry-sponsored projects and brings much talent to the teams on which she has served.
Bartolo is the current secretary for the student chapter. She enthusiastically rouses students to attend AATCC events on and off campus and represents the organization in a professional manner. She is always willing to offer tours, participate in Open House, and recruitment events where she speaks to the value of her AATCC membership. As the Co-president of Phi Psi, she also sheds light on the importance of membership in textile-related professional organizations for her fellow students.
Andrew Hall, a Polymer and Color Chemistry (ACS Certified) major and Environmental Minor, is the Student Chapter awardee for North State University (NCSU) Wilson College of Textiles. Bryan Ormond, AATCC Student Chapter faculty advisor says “Having had Hall as a student in two of my classes, I have always been impressed with his ability to grasp the different concepts that were being discussed regardless of whether it was more general topics like the impacts that industry has on the environment or more detailed reaction schemes for synthesizing different polymers or dyes.” From an academic performance standpoint, Hall consistently performs in the top 5% of his peers and has shown an exceptional ability to thoroughly explain the topics in both written and verbal means.
Hall has been very active in the Student Chapter as he has served as the treasurer for over two years. He is at nearly every meeting, maintains the finances, and ensures food is ordered for the meetings. Hall is always willing to step up and put in extra time to give back to the chapter and the college. This past Fall Hall led the student members in a tie-dyeing activity. When Ormond suggested to do this same activity for the Wilson College of Textiles Open House that was only a few weeks away, Hall quickly volunteered to oversee planning and leading the activity on the day of the event. He worked with Ormond to ensure he ordered everything that was needed and took lead on making sure every visitor understood how to tie-dye the shirt and how it related to the College’s programs.
The Student Chapter awardee at NED is Uzma Tariq, a Textile Sciences major. Tariq has been an excellent student throughout her academic years. She has not only excelled academically, she has also excelled in co-curricular activities such as Debate Competitions, Kangroo Mathematics Competition, and Drama Competitions. Professionally, as a student of NED University of Engineering & Technology, Tariq belongs to the top ranks of textile sciences majors. In her second year at the university, she was presented with the prime minister’s laptop as an acknowledgement of her exceptional academic record. She has participated and presented at the Textile Raw Materials Exhibition and Technical Textiles Exhibition and Knitting Exhibition at her university. This year she has graduated as the gold medalist of her group awarded by the Province Governor and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University.
Esther Ahn is a Textile and Clothing major in the Textile Science option at the University of California, Davis and student chapter award winner. She is also a double minor in Managerial Economics and Psychology. Anh is an outstanding student, taking rigorous courses in physical sciences as well as social sciences and economics. She has been on the Dean’s Honor’s list three times. Anh has taken initiatives in a range of extra-curricular activities with several campus organizations in their visual and online publicity and sustainability efforts. She has taken several industry internships related to production, marketing, wholesale, and retail over summer break. She will pursue graduate studies following graduation this year.
Anh is a student member of AATCC and active in the UC Davis AATCC student chapter. She has worked closely with Lisa Cram, (also a UC Davis graduate), Education/Student Engagement Chair of the AATCC California Section, to plan for the student-focused sustainability meeting Spring 2019.
Briannah Plasse is majoring in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, and minoring in General Business. She is the student chapter awardee at the University of Rhode Island. Plasse has challenged herself with courses in many areas of textiles, but especially in textile science. At the same time, she has interned at two textile companies, helped as a TA in courses, while representing the University as a member of the power lifting team
Plasse is a member of the URI student chapter of AATCC. She has represented the department at public events. Most recently at a meeting of the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network (RITIN) attended by Rhode Island’s entire congressional delegation. Her participation was noted in a Textile World article.
The Student Chapter Awardee at University of Texas Austin is a Textiles and Apparel-Design major, Rawan Al-Qarqaz. She is an outstanding student who got into the Honors Program and has done independent undergraduate research. She has taken over the AATCC student chapter, has recruited many members, organized workshops to improve her resume, increased social media presence, and invited guest speakers.
She has even found sponsorship for social events like renting ice skating rink for the holidays.
Virginia Tech’s Student Chapter recipient is Derek Chiu. Chiu is a student who clearly knows his life goals and takes action to achieve them. He was originally studying Business Information Technology and although he had very good grades in Business, in his junior year, he decided to change his first major to Fashion Merchandising and Design (FMD) because his interest is in fashion design. Currently, he is a double-major student. FMD is his first major and Business Management is the second major. Chiu has received A’s in all FMD courses and has been on the Dean’s List every semester. His performance in textile courses were, of course, outstanding.
Chiu has taken part in fighting hunger and changing lives through community partnerships. He participated in a Virginia Tech Engage program called Feeding America – Southwest Virginia. He went to a Feeding America warehouse in Salem, VA, USA several times and helped to package and sort the donated food for delivery to people that needed it.
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. This year AATCC presented each chapter award recipient with a certificate, a copy of the 2017 AATCC Technical Manual, and a copy of the book Color Vision and Technology. Awardees also receive one year of free Membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
Clemson University’s awardee, Kristin Fuller, is majoring in Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) and minoring in Chemistry with a Polymeric Materials concentration. She has earned an excellent overall GPA and was named on the president’s list for having a perfect 4.00 GPA for four of the seven semesters she has completed. The other three semesters she was named to the Dean’s List. She is a member of the Calhoun Honors College and a National Scholar. Fuller has been very active in research, working with Thompson Mefford for the past three years and authoring two research publications. Fuller is also an active member of Phi Psi, the National Textiles Honor Fraternity, and serves as the merchandise chair. She has served as a College Ambassador for the past two years, working to help recruit top quality student to Clemson and MSE. She is currently the captain of the Clemson University Ethics Bowl Team, qualifying and competing in the National Ethics Bowl competitions. She has also served as the departmental representative on the College Student Advisory Board.
The Central Michigan University Student Chapter awardee is Erika Lamfers, a fashion merchandising major in the Fashion Merchandising and Design program. She is also minoring in Marketing. In the summer of 2017, she studied abroad to broaden her horizons. Lamfers has been part of the AATCC student chapter at Central Michigan University as member, vice-president, and president. One of her key contributions was to increase dwindling membership numbers. She has also mobilized the membership through a variety of activities. She organized both professional and social events for the local chapter. Additionally, she served as Vice-President of another student organization, FAMD (Fashion Association of Merchandising and Design). She has consistently participated in volunteer activities. She is a well-rounded student who is academically strong and extracurricular involved.
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Student Chapter award recipient is Chloe Klein, who is majoring in Textile Development and Marketing. Klein has a passion for textiles and her grades show this. She is an energetic student who is interested in textile formation, and how the industry can be more sustainable while bringing new and better products to market. Klein is a very active student. She is the president of the AATCC student chapter, and works with the registrar’s office giving tours of FIT to prospective students. She also participates in the New York City (NYC) breast cancer walk every year, where she helps blind people participate in the walk. She is a runner who also helps the blind in the NYC marathon. She is an all-around leader.
Florida State University’s (FSU) Student Chapter awardee is Amanda Burch. Burch is a graduating senior in the Retail, Merchandising, and Product Development program. Her academic achievements speak for themselves with a near perfect GPA. Meredith McQuerry, faculty advisor and professor of Burch says, “I can attest to her hard work and excellence in the classroom.” Burch also has extensive retail experience, including a management internship with Nordstrom. She continues to develop her leadership skills by attending training and conferences. She was the recipient of the Target Funds for Excellence scholarship and named the top salesperson during her Nordstrom internship. Burch is currently serving as the AATCC chapter president and has been an active member of the FSU AATCC Chapter. She was the coordinator of a highly-successful sustainable fashion show during the fall 2017 semester. She exhibits excellent team work, communication, and problem-solving skills as witnessed both in class and during AATCC events.
The Govt. College University, Faisalabad, Student Chapter Award recipient is Muhammad Abdul Mustaan, a Textile Dyeing major who is conducting research on natural dyeing and the role of bio-mordants in the dyeing process. He has an excellent command of natural colorant extraction, dyeing, mordanting, and the evaluation of dyed fabrics. He has explored new ways of extraction of colorants from new dye-yielding plants and their application on natural fabrics. He also has submitted a book chapter on animal-based natural colorants, which will be published by Wiley-Scrivener. Mustaan has participated in many international conferences, seminars, and symposia. He is the group leader of other students who are working on eco-friendly textiles, and has a keen interest in guiding new students to perform experiments and managing a lab. He has guided many students during textile industry visits to Noor Fatima Fabrics, Harris Dyes, Chemicals Faisalabad Pakistan, and others. He always tries to do academic research as well co-curricular activities under the guidance of senior members.
The NED University Student Chapter Award recipient is Arslan Mumtaz, who completed his Bachelors in Textile Engineering and successfully graduated in January 2018. Prior to that, Mumtaz completed his intermediate level education in pre-Engineering with A grade from Karachi Board of Intermediate Education. During his four years at NED University, Mumtaz performed consistently in all courses, securing good grades, and pleasing his teachers with his aptitude for learning and his presentation skills. Always eager to learn, Mumtaz was regularly present during industrial visits and attentive during lab demonstrations. Mumtaz also completed a mandatory internship during his third year at Amna Textiles in the departments of Spinning and Wet Processing. During his final year, he worked on a final project, titled, “Development of Smart Shirt to Measure Body’s Vital Signs Using Textile Sensors.” Mumtaz became a member of the AATCC NED Student Chapter during his first year and remained a member throughout his time at University. Serving the chapter as volunteer in his first year, he was later promoted to Deputy of Graphics for his aptitude with all things graphics-related, including poster making, photo editing, and video making. Mumtaz also received the Best Deputy of the Year in 2016 for his services to the chapter. He was a part of the organizing team for events such as the NED International Textile Conference in 2014 and 2016, as well as the Career Seminars held in 2014, 2015, and 2016. His impressive team leadership skills and his unrelenting service to the chapter, allowed him to become the President of AATCC NED Chapter. During his term as President, Mumtaz successfully ran the chapter and played a vital role in organizing the 2017 Career Seminar and other events under the banner of AATCC.
Thomas Jefferson’s Student Chapter awardee is Devon Willard. She is a Textile Materials Technology major. Willard is an outstanding student, as shown not only by her GPA, but by the fact that she tutors upper level courses such as Textile Materials, Knit Technology II, and Dyeing & Finishing. Willard is also a member of the Alpha Lamda Delta Honor Society. Willard has served as the AATCC Student Chapter Secretary for the 2016-2017 academic year, and she currently serves as the Vice President for the chapter. Willard has worked at gaining new membership through discussing the advantages of student membership at the University Open House events, as well as the University Activities Fair, which occurs at the beginning of each academic year. She attends AATCC Student Chapter and AATCC Delaware Valley Local Section sponsored events. Willard is the recipient of the AATCC Delaware Valley Scholarship award for the 2016-2017 and the 2017-2018 academic years.
The Student Chapter awardee for the University of California, Davis, is Takaki Sibuya, a Fiber and Polymer Science Senior with a very strong physical science background. In addition to taking the same math, physics, and chemistry classes as engineering students, and a full year of organic chemistry and physical chemistry like the chemistry and chemical engineering students, he also took all the polymer chemistry, polymer physics, and textile science courses. His performance in textile science courses are among the upper third in the highly demanding chemical and polymer materials science classes. He has been working on his senior thesis in fiber spinning of biopolymers since last Fall. Thus far, he has conducted dissolution of cellulose acetate and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) and has begun to electrospin both polymers individually and as mixtures. He understands the concepts well and quickly and has learned and performed experimental procedures diligently. University of California, Davis, faculty advisor You-Lo Hseih says, “One of my postdocs who has observed him over the past three plus months commented him to be an excellent experimentalist. I expect Mr. Sibuya to produce fibers for further characterization using optimical microscopy, differential calorimetry, and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, all of which he learned last quarter. I also have plans for him to learn atomic force microscopy next quarter. He is interested in novel fiber development for textiles.” Sibuya has participated in AATCC student chapter gatherings as well as other student functions. He is easy going and always willing to be part of team activities.
The Student Chapter Award at the University of Delaware (UD) goes to Taylor Pearlstein. As a Dean’s Scholar at UD, Pearlstein developed and proposed her own academic course of study based on her specific interests in textiles, art, fashion, science, and anthropology. Less than 5% of all undergraduates at UD receive the status of Dean’s Scholar. Pearlstein has conducted research at the Winterthur Museum’s Scientific Research and Analysis Lab, studying fabrics from the eighteenth-century to analyze textile dyes using a variety of methods. She has also completed research at UD’s Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab, creating garments for individuals in physical therapy—and her research team currently has a provisional patent. Pearlstein was nominated as a 2016 UD Woman of Promise. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society and was nominated by UD to apply for the Marshall and Fulbright Scholarships. Following graduation, she will enter the Masters in Cultural Heritage Studies at the University College of London in the UK. Pearlstein has actively served her school and the student chapter of AATCC. She is a Blue Hen Ambassador, which involves giving tours to prospective students and speaking on panels about the Honors Program. She has also performed in a variety of dance and theatre groups for the local community and volunteered with UD’s Historic Costume and Textiles Collection for the past four years. She has taught elementary school students at the Salvation Army in their Fantastic Friday’s education programs. Pearlstein has also been a leader in the UD AATCC Student Chapter. When she first joined the AATCC Student Chapter, she held the office of parliamentarian, and helped to launch the “Fashioning Innovation Program,” which connected science and innovation in textiles. She is now the president of the AATCC Student Chapter and has worked to improve the chapter’s programming, such as a workshop on 3D printing, and to expand the outreach of the organization to individuals in other STEM majors, such as engineering and chemistry.
Sage Conrad is the Student Chapter Award recipient for the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Conrad has been an exceptional student in the Textile and Fashion Design program. Conrad has a well-developed skill set and continues to improve and hone new skills and knowledge. One example that typifies Conrad’s leadership as a designer and student is when she independently pursued working with a professor on a product development project where she used what she learned in a Sustainable Practices class. She took her skill sets as a maker of both cloth and handbags to make three prototypes from paper made in Ghana as part of research by Professor Mary Hark. Conrad’s designs then traveled to Kumasi Ghana and Johannesburg South Africa where they were critiqued by design students and faculty. The designs, after incorporating some suggested changes, are now being considered for production back in Kumasi. Conrad has proved herself as a leader in the university by being an outstanding student in the classroom. Also, Conrad has an incredible work ethic. For one project in weaving she decided she wanted to do a small production run of some ikat hand woven fabric of twelve yards. Not only did she complete this incredibly difficult task, she also designed and constructed a handbag with the hand-woven and -dyed material. Other students look to Conrad for advice, and faculty enjoy working with her because she is such an eager and active student with attention to detail and a commitment to craft. She participates in all the opportunities in the department, from a Student Work Showcase to the Fashion Show pop up shop.
The University of Texas, Austin, Student Chapter awardee, Chelsea Zirag, is pursuing a BSA in Human Ecology (Textiles and Apparel-Design concentration) and an Art History minor. She has been an incredibly involved student and she has always taken additional steps to enhance her knowledge. Currently she is taking an independent study where she is doing research on embroidery and how to take it further. She has been very involved with the AATCC Student Chapter since the chapter’s founding. She hasn’t missed a single meeting and has collaborated with students to participate in competitions and organize all the chapter events.
Virginia Tech’s Student Chapter awardee is Kaley Roshitsh, who is majoring in Fashion Merchandising & Design and minoring in Consumer Studies. Always showing a top work ethic, Roshitsh is engaged in her coursework, having made the Dean’s List every semester, and is constantly carving out new opportunities in her outside activities. Two notable achievements include founding the chapter of Her Campus at Virginia Tech while launching her own digital magazine, exploring thrift culture, titled ThriftEd Mag. She also had a merchandising internship in non-apparel goods at Moda Operandi during the summer of 2016. In the summer of 2017, Roshitsh had a styling internship at George Cortina Inc., and held a pattern-making internship at Henry Cowit and Madison Ave Furs. Roshitsh is responsible for maintaining the AATCC Student Chapter at Virginia Tech. She is also a strong advocate for new innovations on campus. Having designed in the annual spring fashion show at Virginia Tech each year, from freshman to senior year, Kaley has guided the creative use of textiles through using recycled materials and deadstock fabrics. In her Junior year, she was chosen as the Fan Favorite Designer. She has served as a TA in a textiles laboratory course and served in costume display and visual merchandising for the department.
Every year, AATCC student chapters name a graduating senior to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, and society. AATCC presents each chapter award winner with a certificate and a copy of the book Color Vision and Technology. Winners also receive one year of free Membership in AATCC as they start their careers.
The Cal Poly Pomona’s Student Chapter award winner is Kristen Murphy, majoring in Apparel Merchandising Management, with a Fashion Retailing Option. Murphy is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society. She has made the Dean’s list every quarter of her Cal Poly Pomona career and manages to excel at her studies while working, being the driving force behind her student chapter, and being married. Murphy received an award and scholarship for outstanding achievement in the AMM department and was also invited to join a prestigious, invitation-only, leadership program last quarter.
Murphy has been a driving force in bringing AATCC to the Cal Poly Pomona campus and is constantly working on getting students involved. She networks with students and gets them excited with her passion and enthusiasm for the club. Murphy wears many hats in the club and is always willing to motivate her team and do what needs to be done for the AATCC SoCal Broncos to thrive. She uses creative ways to keep students interested and always represents the club well. Murphy is very passionate about the club and wants overall for her fellow students to benefit from their membership and stand out above the ever-expanding competition.
Yves Cordeau, a Materials Science & Engineering-Polymeric Materials major and Chemistry minor, is the student chapter award winner for Clemson University. He will be graduating from the Calhoun Honors College with both general and departmental honors. He has worked with a research group for eight semesters, which has led to two publications in scientific journals as well as co-inventorship on a currently pending patent. He has presented at numerous poster sessions including an international conference for BioMagnetics. Cordeau has completed National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research at the University of California Irvine during a summer fellowship program and has spent two summers conducting independent research at Clemson University.
During his time at Clemson, Cordeau has volunteered with the Clemson Life program, specifically at the Outdoor Lab, remodeling old campground structures for students with disabilities. He has represented the University as an athlete during events across the country. Cordeau has also served as an executive member of Phi Psi Professional Fraternity and been a delegate for the University to the national council of the organization.
The Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Student Chapter Award winner is Cydney Alvarez, a Textile Development and Marketing major, and English and Art History Minor. Alvarez is a highly successful member of the Class of 2016: she has been a member of the Dean’s List throughout her academic studies at FIT. She has created a strong Peruvian-themed portfolio, entered and placed 8th in the National Alpaca Owners Association Textile Design Competition, and completed internships with Alice & Olivia and Rag & Bone. She is a contributing member of the Presidential Scholars Honor Society, where she completed a rigorous junior project about cultural leaders in New York City. Through this program, she also participated in monthly colloquia and community service activities.
Alvarez has been active in the FIT and New York City communities by participating in community service activities sponsored by the Presidential Scholars Program, and the AATCC Student Chapter at FIT. She has also volunteered annually for various Spring and Fall New York Fashion Week events. She organized fabric sales, community service events, and networking events that unite and educate club members, and served as the AATCC Student Chapter President for the 2015-2016 school year. Recent club activities included: hand knitting sessions, a series of cotton crocheting classes through Cotton University, and cotton composting with the Natural Dye Garden Club. By planning events with other organizations, AATCC can share textile knowledge with others, and promote coordination and communication with other programs. In the Spring 2016 semester, she and the officers are planning the AATCC annual club trip.
Ashley Lamb, a Retail Merchandising Product Development major is Florida State University’s (FSU) Student Chapter Awardee. During Lamb’s time studying Retail Merchandising Product Development, she has taken each initiative to improve herself academically to prepare for her future career in the retail industry. She has achieved Dean’s list the previous two semesters, frequently leads class discussions, and has participated in two case study competitions: Target Grant Case Study and the Inaugural 2015 Kohl’s Invitational, where she was selected among three other students to represent FSU at Kohl’s headquarters. Additionally, she was selected to represent FSU at two different National Retail Federation Student Programs: NRF Shop. Org 2014 and NRF BIG Show 2016. At the NRF’s BIG Show, Ashley represented FSU as the Next Generation Semi-Finalist. Lamb’s academic achievements help establish her a prestigious role model for her fellow students.
Lamb began her commitment to AATCC as Art Director for the first AATCC of FSU Fashion Show. The next semester, she served as the AATCC Student Chapter’s Vice President and as President for the two following semesters. During this time, she strategized marketing efforts to increase member engagement, planned networking trips for the club with local vendors and manufacturers, and served as Show Coordinator where she designed and organized three fashion shows totaling in attendance of more than 1,500 people in the last two years. She has been a significant asset to the FSU AATCC Student Chapter by interviewing and training a new executive board to continue the growth of the club on campus as she graduates this semester. Lamb’s commitment to the AATCC Student Chapter has been an integral component in the development of the outstanding stature and positive reputation the club holds within the College of Human Sciences.
Zanobia Mehreen is a Chemistry major at Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan and is the student chapter awardee. She is an active member of the AATCC-GCUF Chapter. She is one of the most talented students of the group, who has a keen interest in the use of her inorganic chemistry knowledge in textile dyeing. She has also participated in the First International Conference On Applied Chemical, Biological and Aquatic Sciences (ICACBAS 2014). She has also participated in the GCUF-ASM One Day Biosafety Workshop 2015, sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology
Mehreen is an active member of the AATCC-GCUP Chapter. As general secretary, she helped motivate students to join the group and in research activities. She also co-organized student trips to Harris Dyes and Chemicals Faisalabad, Pakistan, Noor Fatima Textile Faisalabad, Pakistan, as well as the Natural Dye Group in Lahore, Pakistan.
Recently, Mehreen began working on a research project on the use of radcure technology in developing cost-effective textile processing. The project was funded by the higher education commission of Pakistan under the mentorship of Shahid Adeel, lecturer of Chemistry at the Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan, and the AATCC Student Chapter advisor.
The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) student chapter award winner is Kay Adams, a major in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)/Technology & Management/Polymer and Fiber Materials. She has excelled in the Polymer & Fiber Materials Concentration of Georgia Tech’s MSE program. Through active class engagement and leadership, she has encouraged other students to understand topics on a deeper level.
As a freshman, Adams worked in Zhong Lin Wang’s lab full time assisting in nanoresearch. This experience resulted in a publication at the age of nineteen. Additionally, she has displayed excellent aptitude and time management by balancing a challenging curriculum while being a student athlete on the Georgia Tech Dance Team. Minoring in the prestigious Technology & Management program has allowed Adams further connections with the textiles industry and a deeper understanding of how textiles companies succeed in business. All of these achievements have culminated in internships at the Boeing Co., Kimberly-Clark Corp., and Alcoa.
Adams has played a crucial role in improving the Materials Science and Engineering program at Georgia Tech. As a freshman she was selected to be a founding member of the MSE Undergraduate Advisory Council. On this council, Adams met with the External Advisory Board on multiple occasions and provided valuable advice on how to improve the MSE program. Adams acts as a liaison between students, faculty, and the administration to share ideas and goals to better the school. Additionally, Adams regularly meets with potential students to share her experiences at Georgia Tech and the opportunities in MSE. She has also helped in recruiting by filming for videos posted on the MSE website and other promotional materials. All of these actions have helped to grow the size and improve the quality of the MSE School at Georgia Tech.
NED University of Engineering and Technology’s student chapter award winner is Muhammad Abbas Salehi who majored in Textile Engineering and is considered in the top 10% of the class. He took courses in Manufacturing Processes, Machine Design, Transport Phenomenon, and Textile Production Management, in which he performed very well in both theoretical and practical aspects. He demonstrated good concepts, problem solving, and analytical roots. His final year design project was titled “Evaluation of performance of various color difference formulae for standard batch pairs corresponding to 1/25 and 1/12 standard depth surfaces”. According to his advisor, this project was one of the best projects in the class. Salehi lead the project team very well, completed the project on time, and received outstanding marks.
Salehi has been a member of the AATCC NED Chapter for the past two years. In 2015, he was elected as the treasurer of the chapter and maintained the finances of the chapter. In 2014, he acted as deputy to the NED Chapter General Secretary. During his tenure, he worked along with his team and organized various events including Career Seminar 2014 and 2015, Printing Exhibition in 2015, and a visit at Dar-ul-Sakon (charitable institution for disabled people) in 2015. He gets along with his team and faculty advisors very well. He has always been the forefront in taking responsibility and managing events.
Philadelphia University’s Student Chapter award winner is Lauren Buckley, a Textile Design major. Buckley demonstrated a thirst for learning and strong academic skills. She is organized and has excellent time-management skills. She often mentors other students in her classes. Her performance in the Color, Dyeing & Finishing class was recognized by her professor. Buckley is a very active member of the Philadelphia University and Textile community. She volunteered her time working with Langhorne Carpet Co. in their booth at the Philadelphia Flower show, teaching children how to weave. Buckley also volunteered on a sustainable, recycled woven installation project, in which a variety of repurposed items were incorporated into the design. Buckley was selected as one of three Textile Design students to participate in the 2016 Handweavers Guild of America Designers Challenge, where she will collaborate with Fashion Design students. She spent a semester abroad studying at Central Saint Martins and had an internship working with an artist/knit studio. In addition, Buckley served as Secretary of the Phi Psi Alpha chapter fall 2015 and she currently serves as Treasurer and Secretary this semester (spring 2016).
Ysabel Feliix is the student chapter awardee for the University of California, Davis. Feliix took rigorous physical science courses, including one year of calculus, physics, and chemistry, as well as textile science courses. She was on the Dean’s Honors list for two quarters and is a recipient of the Captain John Spencer scholarship. Feliix is a lead peer adviser for UCal Davis’ undergraduate Textiles and Clothing major. She has taken initiative in developing communication tools for students to construct their own study plans and in coordinating with other students on a visual communication project to highlight careers in the textile and apparel industry.
Lexis Kambour is the AATCC Student Chapter Award winner at the University of Delaware. She is a fashion merchandising major and journalism minor. Kambour not only excels academically at the University of Delaware, but has demonstrated ability to compete nationally, as a recipient of two YMA-FSF US$5,000 scholarships in 2014 and 2016, as well as the National Retail Foundation Ray Greenly Scholarship in 2015. She has a special interest in research on 3D printing, and enjoys the challenge of case studies because they require analysis and problem solving skills to develop solutions to complex situations. She has a passion for all aspects of textiles and apparel and constantly strives to expand her knowledge through her activities in the AATCC student chapter at the University of Delaware and her travel study in Hong Kong and China.
Kambour has demonstrated herself as a leader at the University of Delaware. She currently serves as president of two student organizations. As president of the Student Chapter of AATCC, Kambour is constantly encouraging other students to become involved as AATCC members. She has been instrumental in developing new program ideas and other activities for a growing AATCC Student Chapter. She is also the editor of UDress magazine, the largest student-run fashion club on campus. As president of these two organizations, Kambour has shown herself as an effective leader with the ability to think strategically, and to motivate and encourage others to participate. In addition, she has a strong record of community service and was a real ambassador during her travel study to Hong Kong and China.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison student chapter award winner Andrew Trester is a Design Studies, Textile and Fashion major. Trester is an impressive student with innovative ideas and a commitment to process and craft. For his senior thesis, he is investigating sustainability in fashion by researching how organic and locally sourced materials can play a central role in his senior thesis collection. He designed and created five pieces that reflect both the beauty of the materials and a refined classic style. He sourced, processed, naturally dyed, stitched, and tanned all of the materials himself. The wool he used in the sweater of his collection came from local alpaca fiber that he handspun. Even more impressively, Trester sourced a hide from a local tannery and taught himself how to naturally tan the leather, researching best methods and historic techniques. Trester is an exceptional student and designer whose work illustrates new ideas of the role of the fashion designer to be committed to sustainable textile practices and responsible design.
Trester taught himself many of the processes he incorporated into his senior thesis collection. He has given back to the school by presenting his process research and offering to teach and share his knowledge with other students. He has kept an active blog that illustrates his process of learning these techniques and he has visited several classes both in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Design Studies, Textile and Fashion program and at other schools, such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, to present his unique experience of locally sourcing, processing, and designing all of the pieces in his collection. Andrew is an exceptional student that has served as a role model for many of the younger students coming into the program. You can read Andrew Trester’s Process Blog at www.regalstandard.tumblr.com
Taylor Hall is the student chapter award winner for the University of Rhode Island. She is a Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design major and has minors in Business and Public Relations. She studied abroad and has posted a blog entry to the AATCC Blog. Read about her adventures here
Virginia Tech’s student chapter awardee is Amanda Locke, who is a Fashion Merchandising and Design major. Since transferring to Virginia Tech in the fall of 2013, Locke has made Dean’s List every semester. Due to her instant academic success upon transferring, she was recognized by and initiated into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society, which acknowledges transfer students for their ability to adjust to and flourish in the university curriculum. As Locke continued through her college career and up kept her GPA, she was invited to join University Honors, which recognizes students of exceptional abilities and challenges motivated students to unleash their full educational potential.
Since the fall of 2013, Locke has been an active member of the Fashion Merchandising and Design Society, a student-run organization at Virginia Tech that focuses on all things fashion. She has served on the executive team of the organization as one of the two Fashion Show Coordinators, and is now currently the President of the society. During the 2014 spring semester, Locke was a teacher’s assistant for the Introduction to Textiles course. The professor of the course, Jessie Chen-Yu, invited her to serve as one of the teaching assistants because of her outstanding performance in the course the previous semester. As a teaching assistant, Locke advised and provided assistance to students during lab time, as well as conducted study groups outside of the lab. She has also been a member of the AATCC Student Chapter at Virginia Tech since the fall of 2014.
AATCC presents Student Chapter Awards every year to graduating seniors from our Student Chapters to be recognized for academic achievement and contribution to the chapter, school, or society. AATCC presents each chapter award winner with a certificate and a copy of Color Vision and Technology. Winners also receive one year of free Student Membership in AATCC as they start their careers. Be sure to congratulate these outstanding AATCC student members!
Mahak Goyal, from AADTT, majors in textile chemistry and wet processing, and has been at the top of her class in both her undergraduate program and at AADTT. “Mahak is an outstanding student, having a good track record of academics and also deep understanding of the concepts,” says AADTT advisor Siva Rama Kumar Pariti. “She is endowed with a rare ability of grasping and assimilating new and often complex ideas with consummate ease. She is always curious to learn the basic concepts and develop new and innovative ideas from them.” Goyal is an active participant of AADTT’s AATCC Student Chapter activities. She coordinates and organizes various technical as well as non-technical events for the Chapter, such as the General Knowledge quiz, Technical quiz, Group Discussion, Debate, and even cultural events like organizing an Independence Day Celebration. She is also an active campaigner in coordinating and conducting the social service activity for the AATCC Student Chapter, and visiting and collecting goods required by the orphanage adopted by the Chapter.
Nadia Klep majors in materials science and engineering with a polymeric materials concentration and Spanish and chemistry minors. Advisor Garry Lickfield says Klep performed extremely well academically, as evidenced by her 3.86 GPA. She has been named to the Dean’s List for four semesters and to the President’s list (perfect 4.0 GPA) for three semesters. She is a Palmetto Fellow, a member of the Calhoun Honors College, and the recipient of several scholarships and awards, including the Nonwovens Institute Scholarship, the AATCC Piedmont Scholarship, the Robert Benheim, and the Robert Knight Eaton honor awards. Klep is a member of AATCC and Phi Psi, the honorary Textile Fraternity at Clemson, in which she has been very active since her induction in the fall of 2012. According to Lickfield, “She has worked in the department since her freshman year and has been very active in research all four years, working with Igor Luzinov and working in our physical testing and microscopy laboratory.” Klep served as a College of Engineering Ambassador, representing the Material Science and Engineering department and providing campus tours for prospective freshmen, and as a Tigers Teach Tutor.
Vanessa Sanchez is a fiber science major with a 3.675 GPA. According to Cornell’s AATCC Student Chapter faculty advisor Huiju Park, “Vanessa is an outstanding senior with great passion about integrating fiber science into fashion for enhanced functionality, comfort, and eco-friendly solutions. She, as an undergraduate student researcher, has been very active in interdisciplinary research collaboration for sustainable textile business in developing countries. For example, she and her teammates were selected as the finalist of P3 Sustainable Design Competition hosted by US Environmental Protection Agency in 2014. In addition to her great academic performance in her course work, she also has participated in the Cornell Fashion Collective Annual Fashion Show as a student designer.” Park says that Sanchez has made a significant contribution to the AATCC Cornell Student Chapter through her active participation in the Chapter activities and her service as one of the officers.
Rebecca Cunningham maintains a 3.4/4.0 GPA and is on the FSU Dean’s List, according to Student Chapter advisor Kay Grise. Cunningham has served as the FSU Retail Center Photographer and Retail Center Student liaison. She has studied abroad and served as the Lifestyle director for Swatch magazine. She also served as an AATCC Student Chapter officer, first as secretary; then as president. Cunningham was chosen to represent FSU at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in January 2015. She is also a Bright Futures Recipient, Macy’s Fund for Excellence Scholarship winner, and an RMPD Retail Center Student Leadership Scholarship recipient.
Janine E. Feirer is a materials science and engineering major with a concentration in polymer and fiber engineering at Georgia Tech. She is on the Dean’s list with a 3.63 GPA. Although she is graduating with her Bachelor’s degree this semester, she will graduate with her Master’s degree in materials science and engineering in May 2015. She has cumulatively completed over 2.5 years of research during her time at Georgia Tech. She worked in an electronic materials and devices lab and the Georgia Tech cleanroom fabricating and testing large area thin film olybdenum disulfide. She won second place in the 2014 MSE undergraduate poster competition for her work. More recently, she has been working in the mechanical properties lab, compression testing various footwear insole samples. She also has been working to model these compression tests with an engineering software, COMSOL Multiphysics, to further understand the properties of these insoles. According to advisor Fred Cook, Feirer was executive philanthropy chair for her sorority, where she helped raise more than $15,000 for a dance marathon and organized the “Phi Mu Tea Party,” which raised over $4,500 in one night; both benefitting Children’s Miracle Network. She also was a member and advisor for the Freshman Activities Board, which puts on events for the freshman class to enjoy. “Despite all of these extracurricular activities in college, her true love has been materials science and engineering,” says Cook. “She always mentors and convinces.”
Tahreem Beg is a textile major and maintains a 3.802 GPA. NED University AATCC Student Chapter advisors Muhammad Dawood Husain and Fareha Asim say that Beg has performed well consistently. “She secured the first position in three of eight semesters and an overall second position in her BE Textile Program,” says Husain. In her second semester, she was awarded a merit scholarship by the university. “I acted as an advisor of her final year engineering design project,” says Husain. “She performed very well in the final presentation, exhibiting excellent ability to understand difficult concepts quickly and be able to explain them. [She] has proved her mettle time and again with her academic excellence alongside the various exposures to the corporate world.” Beg participated actively in all of the events organized by the Textile department of NEDUET. She was also Deputy Head of Marketing for the AATCC NED Student Chapter, helping to organize the Career Seminar 2014 and organizing the AATCC Student Chapter’s participation at the First NED International Textile Conference (ITC).
Rebecca Flax is a textile design major with a 3.699 GPA. She will be continuing her studies at Philadelphia University while pursuing a Master’s degree in textile design. Philadelphia University AATCC Student Chapter advisor Janet Brady says “She is a talented student very worthy of this award.” Flax worked Open House events on campus, routinely supports other students in the Textile Design studio by assisting with questions they have regarding computer systems, equipment issues, etc., and tutored for both Dyeing and Finishing and Textile Production I classes for two years. She was selected to represent the TD UG program at The Barnes Foundation, First Sundays “Textiles.” Flax exhibited and presented her textile design work to interested museum attendees. She was also selected to exhibit her textile design work at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show in Spring 2014. A floral designer created an arrangement in response to Flax’s textile work. Flax was selected to participate in a WITHIT conference, which is a group of women in the textile and home fashions industries. She also won a scholarship to serve as a student assistant at the HGA international conference Convergence 2014 in Providence RI.
Brenda Zarate majors in textiles and clothing, with an economics and marketing emphasis and maintains a GPA of 3.919. AATCC Student Chapter Advisor You-Lo Hsieh says that Zarate’s academic track record includes 14 A-plus grades, “a truly outstanding academic achievement! Her A+ grades are in subjects ranging from economics, cultural anthropology to textile science. Furthermore, she will graduate with a BS degree in three years!” Zarate will graduate with highest honors from UC Davis this spring. Besides excelling academically, Zarate has been active in organizations in and outside of the university. She has volunteered to help with children’s art as well as second hand clothing in the community. She has volunteered in UC Davis’ annual Picnic Day Tie Dye event. In addition, Hsieh says Zarate “plans to join a women’s cooperative program in Peru to improve the economic viability of women in their textile and apparel work.”
Rachal Mathies is a double major in textiles and Italian, and is also earning a minor in economics, with a 3.75 GPA. She spent a semester in Florence, Italy. According to URI AATCC Student Chapter advisor Martin Bide, “In addition to being a talented student, Rachal is also an excellent practical textile chemist. She has carried out work in the university’s textile science laboratory as part of several ongoing projects. Her work is careful and reliable.”
Kelsey Smith is a double major in fashion merchandising and design and multimedia journalism with a 3.7 GPA, who has been named to the Dean’s List every semester. Smith was chosen for an independent study as AATCC Student Chapter advisor, Jessie Chen-Yu’s teaching assistant for Apparel Textiles Lab in Fall 2013. As a Virginia Tech Cheerleader, Smith received the All-Academic Award in 2012 and 2013 for having the highest GPA on the Cheerleading Team. She currently serves as co-captain of the Virginia Tech Cheerleading Team, and has been a part of the program throughout all four years. Smith was also involved in several community service efforts on campus including The Big Event at Virginia Tech and Relay for Life. As a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, Smith served as Intellectual Development Chair for a semester and worked with several philanthropic organizations, including the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley.
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