The campus quad at San Diego Mesa College transformed into a fashion showcase on May 22 for the 45th Annual Golden Scissors Award Show. Guests arrived for a reception prepared by the college’s culinary department before moving through a display of student projects and enjoying live performances from the college’s music program. The evening framed the talents of emerging designers who are at a pivotal point in their creative journeys.
Organizers embraced the theme “in between,” inviting designers to explore transitional ideas and the creative spaces that sit between study and industry, concept and garment. Mesa College President Ashanti T. Hands opened the program with welcome remarks, followed by greetings from Lyndsey Cook, Professor and Co-Chair of the Fashion Department. Emcees Giovanni Trimble and Aylen Silveira guided the evening’s presentations.
Show format and student presentations
The event began with award-winning student pieces from High Tech High before the main runway featured collections created in the Advanced Fashion Design class taught by Professor Kathie Taylor. Each student presented a cohesive collection developed around an original concept and collection title, demonstrating technical skill, styling choices and conceptual clarity.
Among the collections were designs titled Sunbreak (Sage Kouretchian), Run, Alice, Run! (Melissa Guertin) and Lustre (Ireland Ellwood), each representing distinct approaches to silhouette, fabric use and thematic development. High Tech High contributors opened the night, showcasing the collaborative spirit between programs.
Awards, prizes and recognition
Judges awarded first, second and third places, alongside a People’s Choice honor decided by guest voting. The top prize went to Brooke Jones for her collection Indigo by Noelle. Jones received a two-night package courtesy of Viejas Casino & Resort that included dining and spa credits valued at approximately $1,400, and she will present three of her winning looks during Fashion Week San Diego in October.
Second place was claimed by Christian Safa for Reverie 4223, earning a $250 gift certificate for the new Baby Grand hotel in Coronado, donated by Consortium Holding and redeemable at the hotel or its restaurants. Third place went to Natalie Vitkouski for The Plaid Self, who received $75 in gift cards from True Vet Solutions and a package from the Visions Museum of Textile Art that included a tote, $20 store credit and a one-year museum membership.
People’s Choice and community support
Attendees selected a People’s Choice winner by ballot. The honor matched the judges’ top selection: Indigo by Noelle by Brooke Jones. For this popular vote, Jones received $50 in gift cards from True Vet Solutions plus the Visions Museum tote, $20 credit and a one-year membership to the museum, reinforcing the local arts community’s investment in student work.
The awards and donations came from a cross-section of community partners, including Viejas Casino & Resort, Consortium Holding, Baby Grand Coronado, True Vet Solutions and the Visions Museum of Textile Art. These contributions underscore how local businesses and cultural organizations help bridge the gap between education and professional opportunity.
The Mesa Fashion Program and student opportunities
The Mesa Fashion Program offers a variety of degrees and certificates in both fashion design and fashion merchandising. Faculty are working professionals who provide hands-on instruction and industry connections. Students benefit from internship placements, study abroad options, collaborative projects with industry partners and real-world production experience that equip them for careers in the fashion sector.
Professor-led classes like Advanced Fashion Design emphasize both craftsmanship and concept development. The Golden Scissors runway functions as a capstone of sorts: a public forum where technical skill, narrative coherence and presentation all come together—preparing students for next steps such as trade shows, internships and regional fashion weeks.
Photographers and contributors
Event photography and visual documentation were provided by Diana Cavagnaro, an internationally recognized couture milliner and educator based in Southern California. Her work and engagement with the program—alongside faculty mentorship—add professional context to student portfolios and public presentations.
For readers interested in seeing the collections or learning more about the program, Mesa College provides additional details about degrees, certificates and upcoming events.
Upcoming public events
Visitors and supporters can plan to attend two upcoming fashion-related events organized by the college and community partners. On Saturday, June 6, 2026, the Recycled Materials Runway Event will take place at the Escondido Arts Partnership from 6 PM to 8 PM, showcasing eco-conscious design. On Sunday, June 14, 2026, Fashion and Masters will be hosted at the Timken Museum of Art from 4 PM to 6:30 PM; fashion historian Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell will explore the construction and cultural meaning of 18th-century attire.
The Golden Scissors Award Show continues to function as a public celebration of student work and as a bridge between education and industry, highlighting the next generation of designers and the community network that supports them.