CARS 9th Annual internship poster competition
The Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies Department (CARS) hosted its 9th Annual Internship Poster Competition on Tuesday, September 24 in the Elliot University Center. Students in the CARS Department must complete a summer internship as part of a CRS 332 course requirement after their junior or senior year.
Students may have the chance to intern with companies with long-standing connections with CARS, and the internships are geared toward student interest within their area of study. This academic year, students have interned at a variety of locations, such as Kohls, Incorporated in Menomonee Falls, WI, TJX Companies in Los Angeles, CA, and Walmart in New York NW, etc. These internships equip students with real-world experience and are vital for their personal and professional development.
Following the completion of their internship, students must create an intriguing and informative poster highlighting their summer experience. This is a key component of the CRS 332 course. Faculty then review their posters, and a selection of students are invited to compete in the competition.
This year, nine CARS students were selected as finalists to compete in the Internship Poster Competition. The competition entails a three-minute elevator speech regarding the students’ experience. This is presented in front of their peers and to a panel of three judges. In the speech, students briefly explain what their internship encompassed and what three things they learned as a result. Next, students interface with the judges and engage in an informal Q&A forum where they can expand upon their summer experience.
A networking lunch follows, where students can engage in meaningful discussions with the judges, who are CARS Alumni and working industry professionals. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to build connections and ask any questions they might have. After lunch, judges presented their final remarks to the students and the three winners were announced by Department Head, Dr. Nancy Hodges. Judges’ scores are based on visual appeal of the student’s presentation and how well they conveyed their overall experience.
The ‘Best Overall Internship Experience’ winner for this year’s competition was Taylor Pouges. Taylor interned at TJX Companies in Framingham, MA. Following her internship, she has been offered a full-time position at TJX Companies. Jeffrey (Jay) Hailey won ‘Best Verbal Communication’ and interned at Lids in Indianapolis, IN. Jay created original designs for Lids hats that have the chance to be displayed and sold in-store. Lastly, Sophie Macon won ‘Best Visual Presentation’ and interned at Wynnie’s Boutique in High Point, NC. She assisted with store management and merchandising and contributed to the social media efforts of the boutique. All three winners were awarded Amazon Gift cards.
We are extremely proud of all our students who competed in this year’s competition, as it is an integral part of our department and their overall growth. Each student worked diligently and came to the competition ready to communicate the impact of their experience!
“In my internship, I learned how to communicate effectively to always ensure productivity. I plan to use the technology skills I acquired throughout my experience in my future career.”
Internship Contestant, Sha’Kya Cherry
We would like to give a special thanks to our three judges, Amber Galatz (BS CARS ‘17) Lead Technical Apparel Designer and 3D Support Lead at Kontoor Brands, Daizja Owens (BS CARS ‘22) Supply Chain Operations and Data Management Coordinator at Centric Brands, and Lindsey Smith (BS CARS ‘20 & MSRS ‘21) Product Design Assistant at Cone Denim, and to the Burlington Industries CARS Endowment fund for sponsoring the event.
CRS 363 Students take on cotton inc.
On Thursday, September 5, twenty of UNCG’s CRS 363: Global Sourcing of Apparel and Consumer Related Products students headed to Cary, NC. Students visited the Cotton Incorporated Global Headquarters Campus with their instructor, Dr. Elena Karpova. Cotton Incorporated is a not-for-profit corporation that equips companies with the necessary resources and research to innovate and promote cotton products. Their goal is to enhance the overall market of cotton across the United States.
The students’ tour of Cotton Incorporated started with an overview of the company and a presentation from Mark Messura, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain Marketing. The presentation addressed relevant issues in the cotton industry and students learned ways to improve the production of cotton to ensure its sustainability. Moreover, students learned about the benefits of cotton from a consumer and environmental standpoint. This presentation was valuable to the CARS students, as they will be developing their own apparel and need to understand the advantages of cotton.
Jen Lukowiak, the Director of Supply Chain Marketing presented the second presentation. Students saw a selection of cotton apparel samples from large brands, such as Banana Republic, Under Armor, and more. The samples were made by Engineered Performance Technologies at Cotton Incorporated.
Nearing the end of the tour, CARS students were given the opportunity to tour the cutting-edge Research and Development (R&D) Center to learn about industry advancements and sustainability. Cotton Incorporated is recognized for its innovative R&D Center that spans 125,000 square feet (comparable in size to the city of Chicago).
During the tour of the R&D Center, students gained a holistic understanding of how bales of cotton fibers are produced into yarn. They observed industrial equipment refining and spinning the cotton into yarn. Additionally, students were shown how yarn transforms into fabrics and is used to create sporting apparel. As the tour concluded students viewed various textile and design labs like the testing and finishing laboratory.
The trip to Cotton Incorporated was a particularly impactful and immersive experience for CRS 363 students, as they are learning how to build supply chains locally. CARS students now have a better understanding of what to consider when they procure materials. They even understand how to develop a network for their future companies and brands!
Special thanks to Cotton Incorporated for hosting the CARS students and to Dr. Elena Karpova for accompanying them!
Story by Lily Kamiab, CARS Department
