TRIBUTE TO NCC APPAREL DESIGN PROGRAM ALUMNI FOR A GREAT CAUSE

In memory of Rosemary Hogan, alumni of the Apparel Design Program at Nassau Community College, NCC Fashion Design students designed a collection of globally inspired dolls - ‘Dolls of the World’ - to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. This project was included in the first Nassau Community College Breast Cancer Awareness Expo and Walk sponsored by the Design Innovators Club, Well-Being Programs & Intramural Sports, and HPER.  

Rosemary Hogan lost her ten year battle with breast cancer, and in August of this year we received a letter from her daughter, Carolyn Hogan, who wrote, “My mother was accepted into the Fashion Design program in the fall of 1998. She was 60 years old and very excited to be starting her journey towards finally getting a college degree. This was a strictly personal goal, as she was already an amazing seamstress and also had her own business creating beautiful communion and wedding dolls. The attention to detail that she took with each doll’s dress and accessories never allowed her to actually profit from this small business, but that didn’t matter. Creating the dolls was what she loved to do and she was fortunate and grateful that she was able to use her sewing skills in a way that gave her great satisfaction as well as bringing joy to others.” Rosemary’s family remembered fondly the many Apparel Design Program events that she had participated in, including The Bear Couture Auction, International Design Competition, The Design Innovators Club, and the Annual Spring Fashion Show.

The personal ties Rosemary developed during her time at NCC prompted her daughter and husband to donate 250 dolls, fabrics, trims, and professional equipment for the project that would memorialize her commitment to our program. With the aid of Professors O’Connell, Joseph Pescatore, and Barbara Blumberg, students each selected a theme, and were provided with patterns and instructions on how to approach the doll designs. It proved a resounding success, as everyone was so excited about the dolls! Professor Heidi O’Connell was quoted as saying, “Everywhere I turn students are asking about them!”

As faculty advisors for the Design Innovators Club, Professors O’Connell and Pescatore guided the dolls project every step of the way, beginning with their introduction of the concept to the students and to the committees involved with organizing the NCC Breast Cancer Awareness Expo and Walk held on October 29, 2009, which coincided with October being Breast Cancer Awareness month. We realized this was the perfect time to join the fight while helping others to gain a better awareness of healthy lifestyle choices.

‘Dolls of the World’ aimed to inspire young design students to promote discussion of the sensitive issue of breast cancer, often considered an off-limits topic of conversation. The dolls were a main focus at the Expo which included a very successful fundraiser by the Club which resulted in a total of $1,400 being raised for donation to Mid-Nassau Lend A Helping Hand Inc., in Rosemary Hogan’s name.

Additionally, I contributed separate set of costumed baby dolls to raffle off. Professor Dawn DiStefano, enlisted her Sales classes in a raffle selling campaign to help promote the event. Professor DiStefano is always seeking opportunities to incorporate sales experience into her curriculum, and under her careful guidance, her enthusiastic students raised over $850 in just four days! A remarkable achievement for a worthy cause.

Professor Blumberg stated, “As a Breast Cancer survivor myself, and on behalf of Rosemary Hogan’s family, I welcomed the opportunity to bring this project to the Fashion Design Program which is part of the Marketing/Retailing/Fashion/Interior & Apparel Design Department at Nassau Community College. These uniquely designed dolls have now found a new home at the NCC Children's Greenhouse Day Care Center, and are sure to bring a smile to the faces of young children.” 

An Awards Presentation and Reception were held on October 30 in the College Center Building, and Rosemary’s family and the student designers were in attendance.  Also present to support the design students and Breast Cancer Awareness were Carol Farber, VP Academic Affairs; Dean of Business and Professional Careers, Janet Caruso; Professor Pat Lupino, Marketing Department Chair; and faculty members of the Marketing Department.

Although all of our students are “winners” in our book, awards donated by the Hogan family were given to the top five students chosen for their artistic and original creations:

·        Yuliya Gritsyuk, our top designer, was awarded a Viking Husqvarna Designer sewing machine (valued at $3,500) for her Gypsy design 

·        Arianna Paulino was awarded a professional dress form for her American Girl design

·        Christopher Pioroda was also awarded a professional dress form for his design of a Forest Nymph

·        Valeria Lujan was awarded a gift basket brimming with fabrics, books, notions, and tools of the trade for her Senorita Isabel design

·        Sadie Hartmann was also awarded a gift basket as the designer of a Futuristic Glamour doll

The genuine enthusiasm displayed by the students demonstrated their personal commitment to using their talents for a good cause, while enabling NCC to focus awareness on this very worthy cause.

Rosemary Hogan would be very proud.

Dolls of the World 2009