[441]MTSU DESIGN STUDENTS EARN HIGH MARKS, HONORS AT FASHION EVENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2008
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919, or lrollins@mtsu.edu

MTSU DESIGN STUDENTS EARN HIGH MARKS, HONORS AT FASHION EVENT


(MURFREESBORO)—Three MTSU students were formally recognized for their creativity in design April 11 during the 2008 Fashion Group International in Dallas, a one-day educational event created to mentor and develop tomorrow's leaders and entrepreneurs in the fashion, beauty and home-environments industries. Dr. Gina R. Pisut, assistant professor in the Department of Human Sciences at MTSU, said FGI of Dallas Career Day, with a 40-year-tradition, is the longest-running and largest fashion career event of its kind in the U.S. Held in April each year, the educational outreach is presented by the Fashion Group Foundation of Dallas Inc., with support from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
In this year’s contest, 12 students majoring in MTSU’s textiles, merchandising and design program submitted entries in the Texas-based contest, which is the largest FGI regional event of its kind worldwide. “Out of the 12 MTSU students who entered, three placed,” Pisuit noted. “With over 1,000 entries, we feel like the students did well this year.” The MTSU students who placed or were formally recognized at the recent event were Angela Kenny, daughter of Marylinn and Paul Kenny of Mt. Juliet, who placed first in the “Cotton” category and was a finalist in the “Best of Show” category; Catherine Baker, daughter of Mary R. and James H. Baker of Franklin, who was a finalist in the “Cotton” and “Sportswear/Activewear” categories; and Anna Brackin, daughter of Henry Brackin of Chattanooga and Sanom Brackin of Brentwood, who who won third place in the Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids “Denim Jacket” competition.
“It has been about four years or more since our students received any (FGI) awards,” remarked Pisut, who added that both Kenny and Baker’s garments are now on display in the Ellington Human Sciences Building at MTSU.
The textile, merchandising and design program, or TXMD, at MTSU is designed to give students in-depth knowledge and skills necessary for a variety of professional careers in the fashion industry that may lead to employment in areas of retailing, visual merchandising, promotion, wholesaling or consulting, fashion design or as patternmakers with apparel manufacturers. Currently, MTSU has more than 200 TXMD majors.
For more information about the MTSU student-created designs, please contact Pisut in the human sciences department by calling 615-898-5689 or via e-mail at gpisut@mtsu.edu.
For more information about the FGI Career Day in Dallas, which attracted more than 1,200 participants from 42 schools in 10 states, please access www.dallascareerday.org.

• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request a jpeg of the students’ with their garments for editorial use, please e-mail your request to Lisa L. Rollins at lrollins@mtsu.edu.