Hilton High School Teacher Carol Cowan’s Fashion Clothing class has been walking across the stage in their hand sewn fashions for the past 19 years. In those 19 years, there have been 35 shows – first held in the library, then the cafeteria and then finally the auditorium. Cowan retires from the district at the end of the month.
Mary Therese Friel, former Miss USA and Ford model, along with her husband Kent, have worked with students for the past 15 years on presentation, posture and walking the “runway.”
“We’ve become close friends over the years,” said Friel of Cowan. “We meet the most wonderful young people and we always find talent here.”
The students work hard for weeks sewing their own clothing. They study the elements of design, color, sewing machine operation, patterns and textiles, and then take a field trip to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store to pick out patterns and fabric before beginning their projects.
Students receive extra credit for participating in the fashion show. When judging, the Friels say they always take into consideration a student’s inner beauty.
While everyone enjoyed refreshments made by the International Foods class, Cowan and the Friels decided on the awards. The award recipients were: Fashion I Winner – Katie Schmeer; Fashion I Runner-up – Kortnie Demers; Fashion II Winner – Liz Meader; and Fashion II Runner Up – Earnie Burapan. Participants were Earnie Burapan, Kortnie Demers, Bridget DesGrange, Liz Meader, Taylor Milner, Emily Montz, Katie Schmeer, Elizabeth Taylor and Theresa Wittman.
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