Rock the Runway Brought the Glamour of Rock to Over 2,500 Southern California Residents

The winner of the Rock Icon design competition was announced along with the recipients of over $750,000 in tuition scholarships

SANTA ANA, Calif., May 5 – On Saturday, May 2, over 2,500 people shared a day of glamour, rock and art with The Art Institute of California, Orange County. In just five short hours, guests of the second annual Rock the Runway event watched as students were awarded over $750,000 in tuition scholarships, heard two bands play hour-long sets, stood by as artists created a mural, ate gourmet hot dogs and mashed potato cocktails and were mesmerized by the professionally-produced fashion show that wrapped up the evening.

The highlight of Rock the Runway was the fashion show not only because of the looks from Miss Me, Elmer Ave, The Hive, Level 99 for men, Cohesive, shoes from Velvet Angels and PF Flyers and shades from Oakley, but because it was the runway debut for seven Fashion Design students.

The students competed against each other in the Rock Icon design competition and were challenged to create an outfit for a music legend of the past or present. The winner of the $2,000 design scholarship was decided by a panel of three judges: Rami Kashou, from season four of Project Runway; Lily McElroy, editor-in-chief of Preen Magazine; and Jonny Day, co-founder and designer for Elmer Ave.

Daniel Magaña, a fourth-quarter fashion student, was announced the winner and recipient of the $2,000 scholarship for his outfit inspired by Rihanna. The leather corset complete with spikes, chains and feather details, was modeled by Saleisha, the winner of America’s Next Top Model, cycle 9.

“The students in this competition have only had two to four quarters of instruction and they are already producing such high quality work,” said Mary Ann Gale, Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing & Management Academic Director. “I can only imagine how much more these students are going to grow by the time they get closer to graduation and producing their senior show.”

Rock the Runway began last year as a way to celebrate the arrival of the Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing & Management programs. The event this year showcased the 16 different creative programs available at The Art Institute of California, Orange County.

“The Art Institute of California, Orange County is proud to be a part of this community and we were happy to open our doors to the students, industry leaders and members of the media that make Orange County thrive,” said Daniel Levinson, president of The Art Institute of California, Orange County. “Rock the Runway is our way of getting to know our neighbors and letting our neighbors learn what we are all about.”

Aside from awarding scholarships, the second annual fashion, art and music festival also helped raise money for future competitions. Artists from eVocal customized hats and shoes for guests for a small fee and t-shirts designed by a local artist were also sold and contributed to the over $500 added to the scholarship fund. Sponsors also donated over $1,000 in goods for the online auction which is open until May 9.

To see pictures of the event, learn how to help raise scholarship funds for competitions like Rock Icon or to bid on items in the online auction, visit www.airocktherunway.com.

Media Contacts
Tricia Cook, 714.338.1303 or tcook@aii.edu
Veronica Orozco, 714.830.0221 or vorozco@aii.edu

About The Art Institute of California, Orange County
The Art Institute of California, Orange County is a design, media, fashion and culinary arts school providing bachelor’s and/or associate’s degree programs in Advertising, Baking & Pastry, Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Digital Photography, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing & Management, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, Visual & Game Programming and Web Design & Interactive Media. Located in the heart of Orange County’s South Coast Metro region, The Art Institute of California, Orange County is ideally situated in close proximity to Orange County’s thriving business community, cultural attractions, shopping, entertainment and its famous beaches. The Art Institute of California, Orange County is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.