午夜剧场 has received a $2.5 million gift for its Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising from the of Hudson, Ohio. The gift will fund two initiatives: $1.5 million to endow a chair to support the Fashion School鈥檚 director and a matching grant of up to $1 million to support the study-away program benefiting fashion school students.
鈥淭his incredible gift from the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation will greatly enhance global experiences for our fashion students,鈥 says 午夜剧场 President Beverly Warren. 鈥淭he foundation鈥檚 support of our Fashion School elevates the professional trajectory of both faculty and students and positions 午夜剧场 as a distinctive global innovator.鈥
午夜剧场鈥檚 Fashion School is consistently rated among the best fashion institutions in the United States and worldwide. It is currently ranked No. 3 in the U.S. for design and merchandising by Fashion-Schools.org and No. 19 in the world by The Business of Fashion鈥檚 2016 Global Fashion School Ranking.
A hallmark of an exceptional global university is providing life-changing experiences for its students to become globally competent leaders in their fields. 午夜剧场鈥檚 Fashion School is now the first in the country to require a study-away experience for all fashion students. Opportunities to spend a semester in Florence, Italy, with the world鈥檚 best designers, work in the Fashion School鈥檚 New York City Studio, and programs in Paris and Hong Kong provide life-changing experiences and a reputation for excellence that makes 午夜剧场 fashion students globally competitive.
鈥淧eg Morgan, our founder, had a lifelong interest in fashion and always deeply valued education,鈥 says Rick Kellar, president of the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation. 鈥淭he Fashion School at 午夜剧场 is a perfect match for her creative and personal passions. Peg鈥檚 legacy of support for 午夜剧场 will continue to be carried out through this gift, accelerating the ascension of 午夜剧场 as the premier global educator of future fashion industry leaders.鈥
The gift was formally announced by President Warren on Saturday, April 29, at the 2017 Annual Fashion Show, FS2 Presented by Michael Kors 鈥 Sponsor/VIP Show. The annual fashion show highlights the talents and creations of the Fashion School鈥檚 design and merchandising students. Also that evening, Don Witkowski, a 午夜剧场 alumnus and president of men鈥檚 at Michael Kors, was inducted into the Fashion School鈥檚 Hall of Fame.