This year’s Vivian Price Fashion Design Award was given to graduating senior Erin Kaye Sanders. One of the few scholarships available for fashion design students, this award gives students $500 for fabrics and supplies to help complete their senior thesis. To be considered for the award, students must have senior status, possess a cumulative 3.0 GPA, and receive recommendation by the Columbia College award selection committee. Students must also be in the top 15 percent of their class, submit a portfolio of their work and complete an essay.

The award is named in honor of Vivian Price, who, along with her husband Milton, created two businesses in her time as a fashion designer. One focused on the design, production, and marketing of frames and other accessories for needle point, and the other was the creation of the Visorette, a sun-visor designed so as not to disturb women’s hair-dos.

Price was born in Chicago in 1914 and grew up in poverty. As a young adult, she became inspired to pursue a career in fashion after perusing shops along Michigan Avenue. She began her career in fashion design by creating children’s clothing.

Price, who passed away in 2004, was delighted that a scholarship would be established in her name to help make a difference in the lives of worthy fashion design students.