Mercedes-Benz Announces New Fashion Scholarship

Students may find it easier to overcome the financial hurdle of attending design school after a new scholarship announcement by Mercedes-Benz. The “Drive Your Future Design Awards L.A.” is a new extension of the national Mercedes-Benz “Drive Your Future Scholarship” program, which supports students who are the first member of their families to pursue an education. The new scholarship was announced at a luncheon on March 20 during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.

One aspiring design student will be awarded a $20,000 one-year scholarship to attend The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising this fall and will be mentored by Los Angeles– based designer Kevan Hall, who is an alumnus of FIDM. The former Halston designer is also this year’s “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios Fall 2006 Collections. The scholarship will be sponsored in part by the Southern California Mercedes-Benz dealers along with Mercedes-Benz USA.

Scholarship funds will also be raised at an auction of one-of-a-kind Fender guitars designed by Hollywood notables, celebrities, and Los Angeles–based fashion designers. Participants include supermodel Carolyn Murphy, world champion skater Tony Hawk, designer Kara Saun, Smashbox Studios co-owner Davis Factor and rock star Slash.

Interested students can learn more about the program by logging on to www.fidm.edu/designawardsla after March 27. —N. Jayne Seward