Candidates for the Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award Announced by FGI

Cassandra Bumpous with Brian Bolke

Five fashion students participating in Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas’ 2012 Career Day have been selected as candidates for the new $10,000 Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award which also includes mentorship by Brian Bolke, co-founder of Forty Five Ten, one of Dallas’ most well known designer boutiques, announced Jenny Siede, president, FGI Dallas. 

The award is named in honor of Bolke’s co-founder, Shelly Musselman, a Dallas and international fashion icon, who passed away in early 2011. Selected by Bolke during the annual FGI Dallas Career Day, which attracted more than 1,000 students and faculty from over 40 colleges and universities across 12 states, the nominees were announced during Career Day’s runway fashion show featuring Career Day scholarship winners.

Candidates for the Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award are: Mfon Ogbonna, Houston Community College; Cassandra Bumpous, University of North Texas; Kim Pham, University of North Texas; Bao Tran, University of North Texas; and Katrina Raz, University of Texas at Austin. In addition to having the honor of being considered for this significant fashion award, these five talented fashion students competed for scholarship awards given by Fashion Group International of Dallas, the Dallas Market Center, Louisiana Alligator Advisory Council, Neiman Marcus, The Texas Cotton Ginners Association, and DAVACO.

Bao Tran with Brian Bolke

Katrina Raz received a first place scholarship award in the Bridal category, while Mfon Ogbonna received a first place scholarship for Dallas Market Center’s “Little Red Dress” competition. Bao Tran won two Career Day scholarship awards – first place in Career Wear, and first place in Cocktail/Eveningwear. Kim Pham received a second place award in the Fashion Illustration category, while Cassandra Bumpous received a first place Natural Fibers Award in the Cotton Garment category.

One of these students will be named the winner of the Shelly Musselman Fashion Design Award at the Oct. 3 press party for the Fashion and Lifestyle Awards “Night of Stars” gala. Co-chaired by Maxine Trowbridge and Chuck Steelman, the “Night of Stars” event is slated for Friday, Nov. 16 at The Grand Pavilion of The Dallas Trade Mart.

Dallas Career Day, hosted by Fashion Group International of Dallas, was created to provide philanthropic educational outreach for college and university students seeking careers in the fashion and lifestyle industries.