(openPR) - High school seniors that see a fashion career in their futures have the chance to compete for a full-tuition scholarship to study Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing & Management at The Art Institute of California – Orange County.

The Passion for Fashion Competition was created to encourage and reward young fashion talent. Two grand prize winners will be selected to receive a full tuition scholarship to study at a participating Art Institutes school. One winner will be selected from each of the following categories: (i) Fashion Design and (ii) Fashion Marketing & Merchandising and Retail Management.

“Many students have raw talent and a full tuition scholarship could help them learn the skills they need to pursue a career in fashion,” said Mary Ann Gale, Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing & Management Academic Director. “Seniors about to graduate have grown up watching reality shows like Project Runway and this competition is their opportunity to see how they match up against their peers.”

In addition to a full tuition scholarship, the grand prize winner in each category, in partnership with Seventeen Magazine, also receives a trip to New York City to attend a Fashion Week show, attends a "meet and greet" at Seventeen Magazine's offices, lunches with a Seventeen Magazine Style Pro and receives a $500 shopping spree.

Students are required to create an original evening wear design for the Fashion Design category or an original Fashion Marketing, Merchandising and Retail Management plan for the corresponding category.

To be eligible, students must be set to graduate high school in 2010, complete an Entry & Release Form, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, write a short essay describing their interest in fashion and submit a finished, originally designed evening wear garment and process book for the Fashion Design category or a create a product or plan for the Fashion Marketing & Merchandising and Retail Management category.

The deadline to submit entries to The Art Institute of California – Orange County is Friday, November 20, 2009. For complete rules and entry requirements of The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/passionforfashion or contact Veronica Orozco at 714.830.0221 or vorozco@aii.edu.

About The Art Institute of California – Orange County
The Art Institute of California – Orange County is a design, media, fashion and culinary arts school providing bachelor’s and/or associate’s degree programs in Advertising, Baking & Pastry, Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Digital Photography, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing & Management, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, Visual & Game Programming and Web Design & Interactive Media. Located in the heart of Orange County’s South Coast Metro region, The Art Institute of California – Orange County is ideally situated in close proximity to Orange County’s thriving business community, cultural attractions, shopping, entertainment and its famous beaches. The school is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

Media Contacts
Tricia Cook, tcook@aii.edu or 714.338.1303
Veronica Orozco, vorozco@aii.edu or 714.830.0221

The Art Institute of California - Orange County
3601 W Sunflower Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92704