The Art Institute of Atlanta — Decatur Announces Winners in the Second Annual “Fashion Your Future” Scholarship Competition

ATLANTA (GA) – Four young people created exciting display windows at North DeKalb Mall this past weekend, vying for tuition scholarships of $1,000 to $10,000 to the fashion & retail management program at The Art Institute of Atlanta - Decatur.  Selected from over 20 entries, the four semi-finalists had from 9 am until 6 pm on Friday, March 27, to create exciting, imaginative window displays featuring a spring dress and accessories from Macy’s.

The finalists –Jessica Berlanga (Tucker 30084), Remarco Vickers (Atlanta 30314), Latoria Jackson (Riverdale 30274), and Alarea Dickinson (Atlanta 30311)– created four unique window displays, reflecting their idea of the perfect spring setting. The judging and awards presentation took place on Saturday morning, March 28. Judging the displays were fashion & retail management department chair Mary Jo Bershad, fashion & retail management faculty members Denise Thompson and JaVaun Gorman, Janice Kimber, corporate manager for special events and promotions with Macy’s-Atlanta, and Brande McClellan, associate director of admissions at the Decatur campus. Ms. Kimber also serves on the fashion & retail management department’s advisory committee.

First place went to Latoria Jackson, who received a $10,000 scholarship. Second place went to Jessica Berlanga with a $5,000 scholarship; in third place, Remarco Vickers received a $2,500 scholarship; and fourth-place winner Alarea Dickinson received a $1,000 scholarship. Latoria and Remarco begin their studies at The Art Institute of Atlanta – Decatur spring quarter, Jessica starts this summer, and Alarea begins with the fall quarter. The displays, located in the AMC Theater wing of the mall, will remain on view at North DeKalb Mall through Saturday, April 4.

The Art Institute of Atlanta is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Art Institute of Atlanta, including its satellite campus and its branch campuses — The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, The Art Institute of Charleston, The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville, and The Art Institute of Washington —  is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of The Art Institute of Atlanta, its satellite campus, and its branch campuses.  The Art Institute of Atlanta is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 educational institutions throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion, and culinary arts professionals.