By Justyn Fulton, Sept. 28, 2021
To help start the school year off strong, the Clothes Closet, operated by the Career Center, is providing students with the opportunity to win a $50 stipend and personal styling session through CPP’s Bronco Care Program.
Currently enrolled students who struggle with employment, homelessness, unexpected expenses from an accident or have dental or medical fees are encouraged to apply for the clothing stipend through the Broncos Care Basic Needs Intake Form.
“As a stipend recipient, you also receive a styling session with one of the apparel merchandising and management students that are interning in the Clothes Closet service,” said Cheryl Love, coordinator of the Clothes Closet and career counselor.
Love shared that the clothing stipend has been a staple program at the Clothes Closet for years. They continued it this year to provide students with an opportunity to be confident in themselves and their style as they immerse themselves in professional environments.
So far, 76 people have applied for the stipend program this year. In 2020, 577 students applied to the program.
Alumnus Edgar “JP” Paul Pazmino Jr. (’20, bachelor’s in psychology) used the $50 Amazon gift card from the clothing stipend to pay for his graduation outfit.
“You know it is a major blessing to have a program like this,” said Pazmino. “Coming from where I am from, I did not have the money to go out and dress nice, so getting the $50 gift cards allowed me to purchase items online, such as the suit I wore to my commencement ceremony.”
Throughout the years, the Clothes Closet service typically hires apparel merchandising and management, AMM, interns to work for the styling service. The focus is on apparel merchandising and management majors because of their experience in fashion, professionalism, clothing trends and composing cohesive outfits.
Larissa Benigno Sboarine Boetticher is one of the styling interns who works for the Career Center’s programs.
“We provide not just fashion tips, but also how you can dress well while spending only a little bit of your money,” Boetticher said.
Styling sessions are held virtually with the fashion experts from AMM. The stylist’s job is to find affordable styles which are unique to the student’s design taste.
Whether the outfit is for a job interview, a conference or the first day at work or school, the stylists can help put together a fitted outfit.
The Clothes Closet Stipend Program is awarding two $50 Amazon gift cards for this year’s
program. According to its website, students can only apply once a semester and twice a year for a stipend.
To learn more and apply for the stipend, or to see other similar programs meant to serve Cal Poly Pomona students, visit the Basic Needs website.
Graphic courtesy of Justin Oo.
