Scholar Lupe Martinez-Hilario '26, of Centennial, realizes dreams on a London adventure, thanks to her enrichment funds.
Lupe Martinez-Hilario, a student of the Class of 2026, has embarked on a transformative journey thanks to the Centennial Scholarship from the North Carolina Textile Foundation. This prestigious scholarship enabled Martinez-Hilario to study fashion and textile design at the University of the Arts London, immersing her in a multicultural environment and broadening her global perspective.
During her three-month stay in London, Martinez-Hilario felt that she was making experiences from her bucket list come true. She visited filming locations of favourite movies, saw artwork from art textbooks, and cities from Pinterest boards. But more than just the sightseeing, Martinez-Hilario found herself growing both personally and professionally.
The international exposure helped Martinez-Hilario understand diverse cultural contexts and global market trends in fashion and textiles. This understanding has made her more competitive and marketable to future employers. Moreover, her time abroad gave her a sense of clarity about the type of fashion designer she hopes to become.
The Centennial Scholarship, funded by the North Carolina Textile Foundation, played a key role in making this opportunity possible. Recipients of the scholarship receive up to $22,000 in scholarship funding each year for four years, and an additional $7,500 in enrichment funding to maximise their college experience.
Martinez-Hilario used her enrichment funding to study and intern abroad, participate in leadership programs, and explore various career opportunities. These experiences have not only enriched her education but also boosted her confidence and skills, which will stick with her beyond graduation.
The study abroad experience has expanded Martinez-Hilario's idea of what's possible and made her more ambitious. She is now planning to pursue a master's degree to further expand on the entrepreneurship class she took at the University of the Arts London.
Martinez-Hilario is grateful to the donor who made her study abroad experience possible, as they believe in the worth of her education. She feels that the skills and confidence gained during her study abroad trip will stick with her beyond graduation, setting her up for a successful career in the increasingly globalized fashion and textile industry.
- Lupe Martinez-Hilario, an undergraduate student, is pursuing fashion and textile design at the University of the Arts London, thanks to the Centennial Scholarship from the North Carolina Textile Foundation.
- Martinez-Hilario's journey abroad has not only been an exciting adventure, visiting filming locations and studying art, but also a period of personal and professional growth.
- The scholarship has enabled Martinez-Hilario to immersse herself in a multicultural environment, broadening her perspective on global fashion and textile trends.
- With the enrichment funding provided by the scholarship, Martinez-Hilario has interned abroad, participated in leadership programs, and explored various career opportunities.
- Martinez-Hilario's experience abroad has boosted her confidence and skills, setting her apart as a competitive and marketable fashion and textile design graduate.
- Martinez-Hilario plans to pursue a master's degree to further her education in fashion entrepreneurship, with the aim of having a successful career in the globalized industry.
- Martinez-Hilario expresses gratitude to the scholarship's donor for making her study abroad experience possible, investing in her education and personal growth.
- Martinez-Hilario upholds that the skills and confidence gained during her study abroad trip will stay with her beyond graduation, making her well-equipped for a lifelong journey of learning and goal-setting in the fashion-and-beauty, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and online-education sectors.
