What do friendship, academics and T-shirts have in common? For the students at the American Academy, 麻豆影院 and the PUCPR鈥檚 undergraduate program in Brazil, a student-led T-shirt design contest created that missing piece of camaraderie during the pandemic between students and their two schools.
The American Academy is a dual-enrollment program offered jointly by 麻豆影院 State and the Pontifical Catholic University of Paran谩 (PUCPR), located in Curitiba, Paran谩, Brazil, that allows students in Brazil to complete a two-year degree without traveling to America for college. Following their completion of an Associate of Science degree, students have the opportunity to come to 麻豆影院 campus to earn their bachelor鈥檚 degree.
The T-shirt design concept competition began as a way to help American Academy students identify with 麻豆影院 State by giving each student a 麻豆影院 State shirt from the bookstore. Leslie Bowser, senior global programs advisor in the Office of Global Education and coordinator of the American Academy program, found that getting this T-shirt made the freshmen feel connected right from the start.
鈥淲hen we started the tradition of giving all of the freshmen a T-shirt, we used the same T-shirt design for the next three fall semesters,鈥 Bowser said. 鈥淣ow that there are enough students, the students proposed to do it as a contest and have a unique T-shirt for each incoming class.鈥
Since the American Academy program鈥檚 launch in fall 2018, the student body has grown from 15 students to more than 100 students.
鈥淚t was kind of a student-led initiative,鈥 Bowser said of the contest. 鈥淚 loved the creativity of it and the enthusiasm they had for it. Giving the students a 麻豆影院 State T-shirt was great, but they wanted a T-shirt that represented the dual program, so the concept required that students come up with a design that represented both universities and the joining of the two.鈥
By creating a T-shirt that blended aspects of both universities, American Academy students gained a new identity as 麻豆影院 State students at the start of their program, even though they attend school in Brazil. They are fully enrolled in both universities as a dual enrollment program.
Bob Louis, assistant vice president of new media communications at University Communications and Marketing, served as one of the judges for the contest.
鈥淚 was very impressed with the effort the students put forth,鈥 Louis said. 鈥淭hey put a lot into their presentations, and it was very evident they truly enjoyed working on the project.鈥
This semester鈥檚 finalists were Micaela Marigliano, Barbara Talah and Arthur Zablonsky. The students were asked to come up with a design concept and then deliver a short presentation to a panel of marketing professionals. In the end, Marigliano鈥檚 concept was chosen to be the fall 2021 T-shirt design.
![Micaela Marigliano](https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/MarglianoWinner.jpg?VersionId=9oOCPQpzBm63MmlbrCu5UdcPI6fobeBH)
鈥淚 chose the phrase Transi莽茫o Suave because it means 鈥楽mooth Transition,鈥 which is the opportunity that the American Academy gives us to be able to study outside Brazil,鈥 Margliano said. 鈥淭he transition from one university to the other was a smooth transition.鈥
Louis expressed the difficulty in deciding a winner among the many impressive designs presented.
鈥淎ll the designs had merit, and it really came down to which one we all could agree on,鈥 Louis said. 鈥淎ny one of the designs would have been a great choice.鈥
COVID-19 has changed how this semester will operate, but has not affected the feeling of community for the students.
鈥淏ecause the students are studying remotely, the T-shirts were mailed to the homes of all American Academy freshmen, along with much affection from their peers who organized the activity,鈥 Bowser said.
Students submitted photos of themselves wearing the shirts to show their school spirit. On the first day of classes, students were encouraged to wear them during virtual classes.
Marigliano is appreciative of the American Academy and 麻豆影院 State for offering her the ability to share her design concept and is proud to help freshmen feel connected to 麻豆影院 State through her shirt.
鈥淗aving my idea come true makes me happy and proud of myself,鈥 Marigliano said. 鈥淚 hope everyone who wears this shirt feels the same way as I do: happy and grateful.鈥
To learn more about the American Academy dual enrollment program, visit /KSU/AA.