One West Virginia University student was recently named a Fashion Scholarship Fund recipient for the second year in a row, providing the confirmation she needed that she found her niche in the world.
Alaina Wodarek is a senior studying fashion, dress and merchandising in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. The case study she submitted to the Fashion Scholarship Fund last year, which focused on improving an already established brand, earned her $7,500 and free travel to networking opportunities in New York City. This year, she will be awarded the same for her case study on increasing merchandising sustainability.
“Receiving the award for a second time affirmed to me that I belong in the fashion industry,” Wodarek said.
Of 521 submissions, only 130 scholarships were awarded. Of those awarded, only 19% were from the merchandising category, the one Wodarek entered.
“This illustrates just how competitive Alaina’s entry was. Not only that, but she is the first WVU student to be awarded the scholarship two years in a row!” Katie Jones, associate professor of fashion, dress and merchandising, said.
Wodarek’s merchandising case study focused on increasing the sustainability of certain products of Makeup by Mario.
“I created two refillable makeup cases — one for face powders and one for eye shadows,” Wodarek explained. “They would come in aluminum tins because aluminum is endlessly recyclable. Once you run out of a product, you can replace it and customize it to your shade.”
Because of her previous experience completing a winning case study, she said she was able to have more fun with this one. Although it was still difficult, she enjoyed the late nights spent working on it.
“We had to create a six-month plan. I had to calculate how much stock we would need, the inventory and average monthly sales planned. I had to look at their revenue and how they usually do sales,” Wodarek said. “That was probably the hardest part of the case study. It was a lot of research.”
In addition to winning two Fashion Fund Scholarships, Wodarek won last year’s WVU Brand and Trademark Licensing contest to attend an all-expenses paid trip to New York Fashion Week.
The Fashion Scholarship Fund trip will be to New York City in April 2024 where Wodarek and other recipients across the nation will meet the Nordstrom president, the strategic adviser for the Louis Vuitton brand and other fashion business professionals.
“I wanted to try for this scholarship again because the free trip to New York in 2023 was the best time of my life. I attended a gala where I met the editor-in-chief of Vogue and Tommy Hilfiger,” Wodarek said. “To be in the room and acknowledged as part of that profession is a huge honor.”
Wodarek chose to put her Fashion Scholarship Fund monies toward her out-of-state student loans.
She also expressed gratitude to her professors and appreciation for their support.
“Thank you to all my professors that challenged me in different ways,” Wodarek added. “I have loved learning from them in my classes. They've been so supportive and that means a lot.”
The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design envisions a world sustainably fed, clothed and sheltered. To learn more about the Davis College, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube by following @WVUDavis.
-WVU-
Ls/01/08/24
MEDIA CONTACT: Leah Smith
Communications Specialist
WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
304-290-8680; lnestor2@mail.wvu.edu