MCHS Fashion Design team hits right notes to win state title | News, Sports, Jobs

LEWISTOWN — When Mifflin County High School fashion design students Reina Cirota, Emily Banks and Ben Snyder heard the theme for the upcoming state competition was going to be marching band, it was literally music to their eyes.

Admittedly, there were more than a few confident smiles.

After all, three of the four team members — Cirota, Banks and Oak Yeater — returned from last year’s Mifflin County High School Technology Student Association (TSA) Fashion Design and Technology team that won a state title and competed at the National TSA Conference in Orlando, Fla.

But Cirota, Banks and Snyder were also members of the decorated Mifflin County High School Marching Huskies marching band. It seemed like an embarrassment of riches.

While it certainly didn’t guarantee the foursome another successful garment, that theme combined with last year’s unexpected trip to nationals made the team’s return trip to states not quite as unnerving.

“They felt very, very confident,” explained Rebecca ConnerMiller, a technology education teacher for the Mifflin County School District. “They felt good because they knew what the expectation was. It was a brand-new garment, but they were knowledgeable and knew the strategies to implement to find success. The first time (last year) they gained a lot of experience.”

The four students had been working on their garment since the start of the school year. The criteria they had was to create a prototype of a marching band uniform for a performance with the theme of “Earth, Wind, Fire, Water.”

The prototype had to include a type of wearable technology, but no pyrotechnics or ignitable elements were permitted, according to the contest rules.

Teams could submit either one or two garments for judging and all required components had to fit within a 32-quart plastic container. Any accessories, such as hats, gloves and boots, etc., could be used during semifinalist presentations; however, they were not submitted for the preliminary round.

“The expectation in fashion is pretty high,” ConnerMiller said. “They had to qualify at a regional event in order to earn a place in the state event.”

In February, Mifflin County won the regional competition held at Cambria Heights High School in Patton, Cambria County. At each level, teams receive feedback — more like constructive criticism — from the judges and make alterations to their garments.

Last year’s Mifflin County team made some major alterations; this year, the changes were much smaller. “Not to the same extent as it had before,” ConnerMiller added. “We received some feedback and made modifications from the insight that was given.”

The incorporation of technology proved to be one of the team’s biggest challenges as they initially introduced 3D-printed elements to their garment.

For the state round, they added lights and a fog machine. Yes, you heard right. “They weren’t sure they made a fog machine as small as they needed,” ConnerMiller quipped.

Each student had a specific area to focus on for manufacturing the garment.

“My role in fashion design was to create the digital illustrations of the garment,” Yeater explained. “The program I used was ibisPaint X. I’ve used this program for most of my digital artwork because its features are simple, the app is free and is easier for me to comprehend compared to Procreate, which is a paid for drawing app.”

Cirota served as the seamstress for the garment. “I did the majority of the sewing and design elements,” she added. “I love using TSA as a means to try new techniques and show off my skills. I had the most fun making the wind section because I really enjoy beading.”

The judging process took less than a week as the team’s work — the garment and a portfolio describing the processes used to make it — was dropped off on Wednesday; it was followed by a runway show and judges interview session on Thursday. ConnerMiller said there were likely 20 to 30 teams across the state that entered the state competition.

Banks was the key speaker and authored the explanation of the theme in the portfolio. “Through this position, I have improved my speech skills and comprehension of the design,” she explained. “I also organized the portfolio components and played a minor role in the construction of the garment’s bibbers and lining fabrics.”

Snyder, the model for this year’s fashion design, found it absolutely exhilarating to put his marching skills to the test for the runaway show.

“I loved showcasing the technology my team implemented as well as showing what it meant to march with the uniform,” Snyder said. “I thank my team for the amazing work they did so far this year. It was so fun expressing myself on stage, and I can’t wait to take this on to nationals.”

After being judged, all teams were invited to an awards ceremony Saturday at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, with the top 10 being recognized on stage. From there, the top three received medals, with Mifflin County being named the winner.

They now await a trip to nationals in Nashville, Tenn., from June 27 to July 1.

Despite having experienced success last year, students were certainly thrilled to repeat as state champions. “They learned a lot from last year,” ConnerMiller said.

Cirota and Snyder are seniors, while Banks and Yeater are juniors.

Mifflin County High School had other students participate in other divisions of the competition. Bank’s older brother, Nathan, a senior, earned a fifth-place medal in the event Pa. materials process for a music box he created for the members of the Mifflin County School District board of directors.

Other competitive entries by Mifflin County TSA students were: children’s stories by Cirota, Tatum Miller, Hannah Jones, Alessa Norris and Dekoda Stewart; promotional design by Luke Foltz; manufacturing prototypes by Foltz, Miller, Snyder, Nathan Banks and Hudson Sellers; safety Illustration by Silas Snyder; music production by Cirota and Bailey Cullen; and Pa.-pin design by Yeater.