Vanessa Avila (2021/2022)

Hello! My name is Vanessa Avila, and I am the recipient of the 2021-2022 Fashion Scholarship. I am a Fashion Merchandising and Management (FASH) major and the Vice President of the Student Fashion Association (SFA) - the fashion club on campus. I transferred to Sacramento State from a city college my junior year, and have attended and been part of the fashion program for the past two years.

My experience in the fashion program has been unique because the campus was closed and classes were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although my first three semesters
at Sacramento State were online, I was able to maintain a GPA of 3.8, which is largely because the professors in the fashion program were extremely accessible and attentive. I joined the fashion club because virtual learning made it more difficult to make friendships and establish meaningful connections. Although the meetings were held online, I met new people and finally built connections with individuals I previously had classes with. I am now completing my final semester at Sacramento State, and am very excited to be graduating in May 2022. I am thankful that I can complete my last semester in person and have the
opportunity to come to campus.

After graduation, I am planning to intern for a fashion company in social media marketing. I am extremely grateful to the Sacramento State fashion department for all of their support, and to my fellow peers who made my experience so great.