Textile expo introduces Nebraska teens to career opportunities

21 Mar 2024     By Kristina Jackson, University Communication and Marketing

An event hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design showed high school students from across the Cornhusker State a runway to future academic and professional careers.

More than 70 students and teachers from nine Nebraska high schools attended the department’s inaugural Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design Expo on March 20. Attendees heard from faculty, students and an alumna; observed lessons in the classroom; and participated in several hands-on activities.

Maria de Guzman, professor and department chair, said she’s seen a growing interest in the field, and by offering a day of first-hand experiences on campus, she hopes the students can imagine themselves at the university.

“We hope that students gain a more holistic understanding of this exciting field and how they can pursue studies and careers in their areas of interest,” de Guzman said.

Participants toured East Campus and shadowed classes on product development and textiles testing and evaluation. They participated in hands-on activities related to courses on fiber identification, styling for photos and a historical collection demonstration. Students also were able to screen print a design onto a tote bag to take home.

Linda Dannehl, a teacher from Southern Valley High School in Oxford, Nebraska, said that coming from a rural area, some of the students in her family and consumer science classes might not think they can find work in the industry, but she hoped the visit would show them the numerous ways they could. She said coming to campus offered an opportunity to use some equipment and apply some techniques they don’t have available to them at their high school.

“I hope they find a passion of theirs we can encourage,” Dannehl said. “It’s really important for these students to get to see something different. They can make a living in rural Nebraska.”

Michael Burton, assistant professor of art and design, and Tina Shetabi, a program graduate student, demonstrated CLO3D — a computer program used to create 3D prototypes of designs without wasting physical materials — and let students try it.

The visitors also heard from Husker alumna Katelyn Sorensen, who holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the university and is now an associate materials manager at Kohl’s Corporate. Sorensen interned at HSN, At Home and Vera Bradley and encouraged the students to find internships of their own during their academic careers. She also said some programs require students to choose either a design or merchandising track, and she felt getting a background in both at Nebraska helped her advance in her career.

Christi Krist, a teacher from Westside High School in Omaha, said she wanted her fashion students to realize the job opportunities the industry offers. Coming to campus was a chance to hear about career options they might not hear about from a counselor. It also showed them up close some of the classes they could take in the future.

“They’re much different than your average English class,” Krist said. “It can spark some ideas for them.”