On May 14, one team and one student from the School of Graduate Studies each received a $25,000 Bob Fisch Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Bob Fisch—founder and former chair and CEO of rue21, award-winning author of the bestsellers Fisch Tales: The Making of a Millennial Baby Boomer and Get a Life: A Roadmap to Rule the World, and FIT Foundation board member—established the awards to help advance the careers of students.
The 2025 recipients of the Bob Fisch Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence are:
Abbey DeFulviis, Erin Moronell, and Jessica Schneider, Global Fashion Management, creators of CulturClasm
The team identified the problem of fashion networking in New York City being very exclusive and access to jobs hinging on insider connections. In response, the students developed CulturClasm, a way to build a community of fashion industry professionals that connects them with career opportunities through curated experiences and mentorship.
“[Winning this award] validates the problem we’ve identified—that there’s a need for collaboration within the fashion industry—and we’re really looking forward to fostering some meaningful relationships,” said Jessica Schneider.
With the award proceeds, CulturClasm plans to deploy its digital marketing strategy.
Lawson Park, Fashion Design MFA, creator of Brooks Avenue
During her first year in the MFA program, Lawson Park developed and launched a print-driven apparel brand, which has already achieved great success. The brand is based on original prints and unique styles inspired by the idea of living authentically, Park said: “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. It means a lot for Bob to see that potential in me and for him to validate that, and I’m excited to keep growing it.”
With the award proceeds, Park has a trifecta of plans: to grow the brand’s wholesale markets, to produce some pieces from her thesis collection, and to restock the brand’s bestsellers.
Fisch, widely recognized for his bold innovations in value-priced, fast-fashion retailing, said: “Once again, all the students have inspired me, showcasing their academic achievements. I am proud to advise and coach them as they have infused their thesis projects with creativity, inspiration, and passion. It has been amazing mentoring these students the past two years. What is exciting to see is how they are starting their graduate school experience with curiosity and now leaving after two years with confidence to build on their future in business and life experiences. My role is helping the students to utilize the powerful word ‘pivot’ in their current experiences and into the upcoming future. Time to ‘face the fear,’ be bold and fearless to achieve their dreams and goals. The best is yet to come!”
“A gift from Bob is more than a contribution,” said FIT President Joyce F. Brown. “Students benefit beyond the financial support. He acts as their guide and sounding board, not only throughout the projects but into the future. Bob deeply believes in mentorship, but he believes that it is a two-way street, which gives young people a chance to learn from him while he learns from their creative young minds.”
“Since 2022, Bob has given out eight $25,000 entrepreneurial awards to students in both the Fashion Design and Global Fashion Management masters’ programs,” said Dr. Brooke Carlson, interim dean of the School of Graduate Studies. “Along with Bob’s mentorship, these awards have made a tremendous impact on the students and their futures. We are so grateful for Bob’s generosity these last four years.”
Past recipients of the Bob Fisch Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence include the following graduates: Gina Ciarrocchi, Global Fashion Management, of Pittsburgh, creator of Silversleeve; Talia Abbe, Fashion Design MFA, of New York City, creator of Tabbe Designs; Lindsey Mortensen, of Dallas, Mubarak Abliz, of Xinjiang, China, and Victoria Shchepakina, of Saratov, Russia, all Global Fashion Management, for POSSE, the Innerwear as Outerwear luxury lingerie brand created for sizes D cup and up; Valeria Watson, Fashion Design MFA, of Guadalajara, Mexico, creator of Valeria Watson, a clothing line that explores the blend of cultures between the United States and Mexico; Amanda Brown, of New York City, Eva Carelus, of Freeport, New York, and Gerry Chen, of New York City, all of Global Fashion Management, for Maid to Alter, a circular bridesmaid dress brand offering rentable dresses with self-adjustable features that allow one garment to serve many customers, saving bridesmaids time and money on dress alterations; and Stephanie Kim, Fashion Design MFA, of South Korea, for The Yearbook Committee, a film and design production company in New York.
Launched in 2021, the Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards are an extension of the comprehensive Bob Fisch graduate student program, which celebrates entrepreneurial excellence and intergenerational mentoring through gifts from Fisch of more than $400,000 to date. The program includes thesis project completion grants, scholarships for FIT’s Fashion Design MFA and Global Fashion Management programs, year-round educational “fireside chats” led by Fisch, and extraordinary one-on-one and group mentoring sessions.