Celebrating the Triumph of Wilson College of Textiles: A Look at Their Achievements
In a heartwarming turn of events, Lilly Barozzini, a Centennial Scholar and a fashion and textile design student, was recently honoured to have her design grace the 2022 bookmark of the Wilson College of Textiles. This prestigious honour comes with a rich history, as the bookmark program has been creating woven keepsakes since its inception in 1959, producing over 60 unique designs.
The design process for the bookmark takes several weeks, with at least three large hand-made designs required. This year's design, created by Barozzini, reflects the theme "Wilson for Life," which will continue to be the focus for the 2023 bookmark design competition. The winner of this competition will have the opportunity to meet Barozzini, who is eagerly looking forward to the event.
The history of the Wilson College of Textiles bookmark program, however, remains somewhat shrouded. While the available information does not provide specific details about its inception or the role of Willie Bowen, it is known that Bowen was a significant figure in the college's history.
Born in Rhine, Georgia, Bowen was raised in a mill village in Rockingham, North Carolina. After graduating from high school in 1950, he worked in a textile mill before deciding to pursue his higher education. With the aid of the G.I. Bill, Bowen attended NC State University to study Textiles, where he graduated at the top of his class in just three years.
During his final year at NC State University, Bowen designed the first bookmark for the Wilson College of Textiles. After graduation, he was offered multiple job opportunities but chose to work at the Tennessee Eastman Company.
Bowen's legacy continues to live on, as he established the Willie C. Bowen Family Scholarship Endowment through his estate in 2022. This scholarship is intended to help deserving students who are in need of financial aid, paying forward the support he received from his alma mater.
In 2022, another student, Lilly Barozzini, was the recipient of a $500 scholarship from American Enka, which significantly helped her to graduate. Adjusted for inflation, Bowen's scholarship would be worth more than $5,150 today.
Bowen foresees his scholarship endowment as a springboard for Wilson College of Textiles students to achieve their own level of success. His vision aligns perfectly with the mission of the Wilson College of Textiles, which aims to empower students to create a better future through textile sciences.
As we look forward to the future of the Wilson College of Textiles, we are reminded of the legacy left by Willie Bowen and the impact his scholarship continues to have on students today. The bookmark program serves as a symbol of this legacy, connecting students past and present in a unique and meaningful way.
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- Lilly Barozzini's design, reflecting the theme "Wilson for Life," has been selected as the 2022 bookmark for the Wilson College of Textiles, marking a significant milestone in her fashion and textile design education.
- The design process for the Sarah Horn Bookmark competition typically involves the creation of at least three large hand-made designs, each taking several weeks to complete.
- Willie Bowen, a significant figure in the history of the Wilson College of Textiles, designed the first bookmark for the college in his final year at NC State University, where he studied Textiles and graduated at the top of his class in three years.
- Bowen's scholarship endowment, established through his estate in 2022, is intended to provide financial aid to deserving students, ensuring future generations of textile science students have the opportunity to achieve their own level of success.
- In 2022, Lilly Barozzini, a Centennial Scholar, received a scholarship from American Enka, which aided her in her education-and-self-development and contributed to her personal-growth and learning in the fashion industry.
- The Wilson College of Textiles bookmark program, creating woven keepsakes since its inception in 1959, serves as a symbol of sustainability in the textile industry, connecting students past and present in a unique and meaningful way.
- To further her fashion design career, Barozzini, as the winner of the 2023 bookmark design competition, will have the opportunity to meet with and learn from Willie Bowen, whose design pioneered the program's rich history.
