Student Awards

For the second year in a row, Cuesta students have been recognized at a prestigious state fashion symposium.

Commercial Fashion Design student Shawn Henson took an honorable mention award at the California Community College Fashion Symposium on March 12 at the California Apparel Market in Los Angeles. Henson received the recognition in the Design Presentation Board contest, using “A City in Winter” as the theme for his tri-fold entry. On his board, Henson featured a Fall 2006 men’s collection of shirts, jackets and slacks in neutral tones of black, gray and white, which also incorporated two-dimensional technical drawings. More than 100 students competed in the competition.

The symposium also boasted on-site contests that included redesigning/reinventing both t-shirts and a man’s oversize dress shirt. In the latter, merchandising students Kady Lemus and Sierra Rose Przybyla were also given honorable mentions.

This year’s event is only the second time that Cuesta students have had the opportunity to participate. (Last spring, CC student Deena Qabazaard garnered second place in the design board contest.) More than 15 community colleges took part, with nearly 300 entries in fashion costumes, accessories and presentation boards categories. Eleven entries were selected to represent Cuesta, with about 30 Cuesta students attending the event.

SCHOLASTIC HONOR SOCIETY ACCOLADE

Alpha Gamma Sigma – the California Community College Scholastic Honor Society – has recognized a Cuesta student with one of its scholarships.

Student Jeanie Sizemore received a Ed Walsh scholarship earlier this month at AGS’s annual state convention, which took place this year in Ventura. The award – which comes with a $500 gift -- honors students who have given outstanding service to their colleges, chapters and local communities. Sizemore is a member of Cuesta’s Gamma Gamma Chapter of AGS and also serves as the society’s North County representative.

Alpha Gamma Sigma (its Greek letters translate to excellence, knowledge and wisdom) was initially established in the mid-1920s in then-small California towns that included Santa Maria, Pasadena and Santa Ana. The organization was incorporated under California law in l940. Ed Walsh was an AGS advisor for Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria and believed that students who had demonstrated outstanding service should be acknowledged. After Walsh’s passing in l970, the AGS State Advisory Board chose to honor him by presenting a scholarship in his name. In all, the statewide group awarded nearly $38,000 in scholarships this year to 56 members throughout California.