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SCHOLARSHIPS

Meet the 2023 CFDA Design Scholar Awards Recipients

September 21, 2023

The CFDA is pleased to announce the recipients of  2023 CFDA Design Scholar Awards.

This year, a total of 340 students applied for CFDA Scholarships with hopes to join an impressive list of past recipients, including Uyen Tran of TômTex (2020), Jacques Agbobly of Agbobly (2019), Peter Do (2013), Michelle Ochs (2006), Chris Benz (2003), and Jack McCollough of Proenza Schouler (2001). Peter Som was the inaugural CFDA Scholarship Award recipient in 1996.

The 2023 CFDA Design Scholar Awards are:

Nkenglack Nchopa, Fashion Institute of Technology, $25,000.
Made possible through a CFDA donation by American Express

Tamara Maroño Garza, Kent State University, $25,000.
Made possible through a CFDA donation by Avani Gregg

X’avier Alexander, Virginia Commonwealth University, $50,000.
Made possible through CFDA donation by Eddie Bauer

Leonardo Guarin-Peters. Parsons School of Design $25,000.
Made possible through CFDA donation by Jack Carlson, Creative Director of Rowing Blazers

Emily Caslli, Parsons School of Design, $25,000.
Made possible through CFDA donation by the Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation

CFDA x Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar Benjamin Halunen, Fashion Institute of Technology, $25,000.

CFDA x Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar Jakarie Whitaker, Clark Atlanta University, $25,000.

CFDA x Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar Jesus Del Real, The University of Texas at Austin, $25,000.

CFDA x Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar Julian Gourley, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, $25,000.

CFDA x Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar, Tristan Riggs, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, $25,000.

CFDA + Swarovski Foundation Re: Generation Innovation Scholar Evren Nelson, Parsons School of Design, $30,000.

Geoffrey Beene Design Masters Scholar Kishan Singh Tehara, Parsons School of Design, $50,000.

The CFDA and Versace also named Cassius Read of the Fashion Institute of Technology as the recipient of a $30,000 scholarship made possible through a CFDA donation by Versace.

 

Between 1996 and 2023, the CFDA has awarded approximately $3.7 million and 365 scholarships.

This year’s various selection committees included: Bach Mai, Daniel Marks of Townhouse Consultancy, Elena Velez, Grace Ling, Jack Carlson, Creative Director of Rowing Blazers, Jackson Wiederhoeft of Wiederhoeft, Jacques Agbobly of Agbobly, Kaisa Inari Kinnunen and Nicci Hunter of Versace, KC Hurst of Crystal Bridges, Maika Nakaoka of Swarovski Foundation, Mara Hutton of Geoffrey Beene Foundation, Mitch Ramey of American Express, Sara Kozlowski, Vice President of Program Strategies, Education & Sustainability Initiatives, and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb.

The CFDA’s commitment to education began in 1996 with the establishment of the CFDA Scholarship Program founded by CFDA Member Monika Tilley.

2023 CFDA Design Scholar Awards
Benjamin Halunen
Emily Caslli
Evren Nelson
Jakarie Whitaker
Jesus Del Real
Julian Gourley
Kishan Singh Tehara
Leonardo Guarin-Peters
Nkenglack Nchopa
Tamara Maroño Garza
Tristan Riggs
X’avier Alexander

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