El Paso Community College is once again stepping into the fashion spotlight as two of its Fashion Design students, Samantha Zapata and Amna Aboushehata, have been honored with Honorable Mention Awards in April at the Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas Student Scholarship Competition. As reported by EPCC News, the recognition comes just as the students are about to graduate from EPCC's Fashion Technology Program.
Samantha Zapata, whose interest in fashion was piqued by designing clothes for dolls, took a detour from kinesiology to fashion after being inspired by a campus display. "I started the program only knowing how to hand sew," she said, as per EPCC News. Her hard work paid off spectacularly with the FGI acknowledgment right before her graduation.
Amna Aboushehata came to EPCC with a solid background in garment construction and has thrived under the program's guidance. Amna's journey at EPCC saw her develop a distinct style, and she remarked on how the FGI accolade gave her additional impetus to chase her dreams. Her aspirations lay in launching a fashion brand that resonates with her desire for elegant, modest apparel, EPCC News detailed.
Zapata and Aboushehata's success at the recent competition underlines the caliber of education that EPCC's Fashion Technology Program continues to offer. Vanessa Ramirez, the program's coordinator, commended the students, saying, "These students exemplify what's possible when talent meets opportunity," as obtained by EPCC News. The school has cultivated a reputation for propelling its graduates into the industry's competitive realms, with some participating in major fashion weeks and others launching personal brands.
The achievements of these two young designers will be celebrated alongside their peers at the upcoming commencement ceremonies taking place on May 16. The celebrations are scheduled at UTEP's Don Haskins Center, with ceremonies occurring at 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m., according to EPCC News.
