An apparel merchandising and management student was selected as a recipient of a prestigious $10,000 scholarship.
Andrea Avalos Lujan was chosen for the 2026 Fashion Scholarship Fund Scholarship in the Merchandising Category through a national case study competition.
The annual case study scholarship requires students to address an issue facing the fashion industry today. This year’s competition asked them to develop a hypothetical cross-industry collaboration between fashion brand and a non-fashion brand.
Avalos Lujan, a senior in the retail emphasis, envisioned a collaboration between American clothing brand Stüssy and FIFA, the international governing body for soccer, for the upcoming 2025 World Cup.
Stüssy and FIFA could create limited edition fan jerseys that highlighted the three host countries: Mexico, Canada, and the United States, she proposed.
“I also wanted to address the plastic waste generated by both the fashion industry and massive events,” Avalos Lujan said. “The jerseys would be made from stadium-collected waste from previous FIFA matches and later processed into recycled polyester.”
Avalos Lujan was one of 100 students nationwide who were awarded a scholarship. About 700 students applied for the scholarship.
“My dream since I was a kid had always been working in the fashion industry,” she said. “I’m extremely excited to build a successful career in the fashion industry.”
The Fashion Scholarship Fund is fashion-oriented educational and workforce development nonprofit organization. It awards more than $1.9 million annually in scholarships to students and also provides internships, networking and mentorship.
