2025 Fashion Scholarship Fund Gala

On Monday, April 7th, I had the honor of attending the annual Fashion Scholarship Fund Gala at The Glasshouse in New York City, for the second year in a row. This was the highlight of the three days that I spent in the city visiting and learning from professionals behind the likes of KidSuper, Macy’s, WWD, and SKIMS. I am so thankful to have shared the same room as Anna Wintour, Coco Rocha, Christian Siriano, and Karl Anthony Towns to name a few (also I took a picture with Jordyn Woods…crazy).

As always, I of course want to acknowledge this unique opportunity to meet the next generation of talent within the fashion industry, and I am very grateful for the opportunities that the Fashion Scholarship Fund continues to provide me. I wish all of the other scholars the best in their future careers and creative endeavors, especially my fellow Buckeyes who joined me in receiving this scholarship, Prateeksha Prabhakar, Vivian Hall, and Megan Huffnagle. Finally, I must thank my mentor and advisor, Alexandra Ruiz Suer, who continues to motivate me to achieve more, and never hesitates to offer words of encouragement

All that said, I want to be candid: receiving such recognition within this industry has become bittersweet, because I’ve realized I don’t want to work in fashion.

Over the past year, I’ve had the chance to work in what I can only describe as a dream job in sports. It’s opened my eyes to a career path I never imagined for myself (though, in hindsight, the signs were always there, I just didn’t know how to read them). This weekend, I found myself wrestling with that realization. Surrounded by some of the most brilliant creatives in fashion, I couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe I didn’t belong. Not because I lack passion, but because my professional dreams have shifted.

I don’t want this to sound negative, so I’ll stop there. What I do want to say is: I’m thankful. Thankful for the Fashion Scholarship Fund, for my advisor, and for every opportunity that’s brought me to this point. My love for fashion is still very real, it’s just not where I see my career heading.

I’ll always carry the inspiration and experiences I’ve gained from this industry. Through both the Fashion Scholarship Fund and The Fashion Production Association, I’ll continue to stay connected. That being said, I’m genuinely excited about the 2026 case study theme because it gives me the chance to merge my two passions: fashion and sports. I can’t wait to bring that vision to life in my final FSF application.

P.S. Enjoy the pictures of NYC!

P.P.S. A special thank you to the Harry Potter movie series for being my background entertainment during the long hours spent on this case study for the second year in a row. I’ll probably rewatch it again this fall while working on my 2026 submission.