London-Bound Centennial Scholar Lupe Martinez-Hilario '26 Makes Bucket List Dreams Come True with Enrichment Funds
The Centennial Scholarship, funded by the North Carolina Textile Foundation, is making a significant impact on the lives of fashion and textile design students. One such recipient, Lupe Martinez-Hilario, recently completed her studies at the University of the Arts London, where she received up to $22,000 in scholarship funding each year for four years and an additional $7,500 in enrichment funding to maximize her college experience.
Martinez-Hilario, who studied fashion and textile design with a concentration in fashion design, used the enrichment funds to engage with new cultures and global fashion events, as well as to study abroad. This experience broadened her perspectives, deepened her understanding of ethical and global fashion practices, and enhanced her professional readiness and networking, contributing to both academic success and career advancement.
During her time abroad in London, Martinez-Hilario visited filming locations of favourite movies, saw artwork from art textbooks, and explored cities on Pinterest boards. The sites she visited inspired her and gave her clarity about the kind of fashion designer she wants to be.
The Centennial Scholarship played a key role in making Martinez-Hilario's opportunity to study abroad possible. Her study abroad experience has expanded her idea of what's possible and made her more ambitious. She strengthened friendships with Wilson College of Textiles classmates during her time abroad and gained a closer connection with her international peers.
Martinez-Hilario's enrichment experience was not just about academic growth, but also personal development. The most meaningful part of her experience was realizing how capable she is. She felt that experiences on her bucket list were reserved for others, but she made many of them come true during her semester abroad.
As she looks to the future, Martinez-Hilario is considering pursuing a master's degree to further expand on an entrepreneurship class she took at the University of the Arts London. She is grateful for the donor who made her study abroad experience possible and for the people who believe in her education and investment in her future.
Overall, the Centennial Scholarship acts as a catalyst that elevates education beyond traditional classroom settings and fosters career growth by supporting immersive, practical experiences that align with modern fashion and textile industry demands. These experiences prepare students for an increasingly globalized and ethically conscious marketplace and increase their employability.
- Lupe Martinez-Hilario, an undergraduate student who received the Centennial Scholarship, studied fashion and textile design at the University of the Arts London.
- Martinez-Hilario received up to $22,000 in scholarship funding each year for four years, along with an additional $7,500 in enrichment funding.
- She used the enrichment funds to engage with new cultures, study abroad, and broaden her perspectives in global fashion practices.
- The Centennial Scholarship made it possible for Martinez-Hilario to study abroad, which expanded her ideas of what's possible and made her more ambitious.
- Martinez-Hilario's experiences abroad contributed to both her academic success and career advancement, and she plans to pursue a master's degree to further expand on her entrepreneurship class.
- The Centennial Scholarship acts as a catalyst for education and career growth, fostering practical, immersive experiences that align with modern fashion and textile industry demands.
- Students who receive the Centennial Scholarship are prepared for an increasingly globalized and ethically conscious marketplace, which increases their employability in the fashion and textile industry.
