2025-2026 Scholarship Winners

Gemini Shippers Association Academic Scholarship

While pursuing her role as incoming co-President of the International Trade Student Association, Gherese is currently a Global Marketing Intern at the Lenzing Group, where she assists in activating regional B2B activities and marketing campaigns, as well as a Social Media Coordinator of I Got Your Booth, where she manages company’s brand presence across multiple social media platforms.

Gherese was a Project Manager at RSQUARE Media Inc. and Marketing/E-Commerce Intern at Miss EmpowHer, Mentee of the Nordstrom Ambassador Program, and a Chapter President of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, which received the Most Distinguished Honors in Action Project (Theme 3), Chapter Progress Award, Excellence in Digital Media, and FIT’s Phoenix Award under her leadership. She has volunteered at Couples for Christ and Our Lady of Mercy Parish, immersing herself in cultural events. In the International Trade Practicum to the Philippines, she translated, navigated, and helped to execute the itinerary. She regularly donates fabrics and clothing to her high school’s fashion design department, where students repurpose the materials into modern designs. Finally, she sponsors the Just Creations Fair Trade Ambassador program, which educates high school students on Fair Trade principles, inspiring a lifelong commitment to fair trade practices.

Gherese created a sustainable clothing brand that uses natural dyes from fruits and vegetables, working to reduce chemical waste and to promote innovative textile dyeing methods, receiving recognition from the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) for her ongoing commitment to sustainable practices.

Initially, Gherese aims to become a Global Marketing Manager of a retail supply chain company as a stepping stone to ultimately founding her own creative marketing agency that sources global talent in New York City.

The Pomeranz Family ITM 2025 Scholarships

ITM is proud to announce that Riva Lilwani, Gherese Felipe, and Sabine Wetzel were selected from an exceptional pool of applicants as the sixth to eighth recipients of the Pomeranz Family ITM scholarships. The scholarship was established in honor of the Pomeranz family’s beloved mother and brother/husband, along with other generous donors, in the spring 2025 term.

The recipients were chosen for their active listening skills, forward thinking, and passion for the arts, community service, and/or sports cherished by the scholarship’s honorees.

Sabine Wetzel immediately identified with the honorees’ interest in playing tennis as well as passion for classical music, as a violinist. She aims to integrate her interest in ethics and sustainability with a career in international supply chain management. In her enthusiastic recommendation, Prof. Chapman lauded Sabine’s ability to critically analyze complex topics and commitment to learning, setting her apart from her peers.

As a Vice President of the FIT Student Activities Board, she manages a team responsible for planning and executing large scale events. As student assistant of Student Life, she manages students’ use of FIT’s food pantry. Sabine has volunteered for Dell Scott, Elegantees, the Lyric Center, cheerleading camp, and the local blood drive. She plans to volunteer for the Talking Trade @ FIT guest lecture series as well as Ouma Studio’s bridal market.

Gherese Felipe impressed the Selection Committee with her affinity for the arts, as a pianist, as well as athletic bent in tennis, coupled with her interest in serving the underprivileged community and fluency in international business. In addition to being awarded her Inside LVMH Certificate, she is a Presidential as well as Baker scholar, and earned scholarships from the Fashion Scholarship Fund, Philippine Pediatric Society, and Jodi Oriel Leadership.

» Read full Gherese's profile above (Gemini Shippers Association scholarship)

Riva Lilwani was recognized for her volunteerism in the Talking Trade @ FIT guest lecture series, the US Fashion Industry Association conference, as well as ITSA and campus activities, performing the role of leader of the Student Tour Guide and Campus Cultural Fellow to spread cultural awareness to over a hundred patrons.

Inspired by her father, who is a developer and exporter of cotton fabrics, she would accompany him to mills and dying facilities to expose herself to craftmanship and global business early in her educational years, leading her to the analytical and innovative thinking that ITM encourages.

She was E-commerce Merchandising Intern at LoveShackFancy where she utilized Shopify to provide details for up to thirty product collections and launches; Assistant Buyer Designer and Sales Representative of the Style Shop; and Content and Social Media Editor of the Sarita Prints and Textiles.

Going forward, Riva aims to pursue a career in global sourcing, honing her skills in data analytics, operations, and inventory management, as well as developing her penchant for attention to detail, collaboration, and creativity in a multinational company. Eventually, she aims to form her own company to showcase Indian fashion and create opportunities for emerging designers to share their talent with the rest of the world by curating a space where South Asian creatives can celebrate their culture, exhibit their work, and gain a sense of belonging in the global fashion industry.

The Selection Committee included ITM advisory board members, Marc D. Schein, National Co-Chair Cyber Center of Excellence, Marsh & McLennan Agency, Prof. Elizabeth Hodur, Assistant Vice President of the KnitWell Group, and ITM 1992, and Michell Sierra, Account Manager of Asak Solutions, and ITM 2013.

Join us in congratulating Riva, Gherese, and Sabine as ITM’s new Pomeranz Family ITM scholars!

World Trade Week Scholarship

New York District Export Council (NYDEC) World Trade Week (WTW)
Next Generation Studies Grant 2025

We are pleased to announce that NYDEC WTW Steering Committee selected Gherese Felipe and Nadia Bullock to received its 2025 Next Generation Studies Grant.

Nadia Bullock impressed the committee with her projects, including the international trade negotiations simulation, international trade practicum to the Philippines, and analysis of the application of international trade rules and national laws to cross-border transactions. In addition to her ITM major, she is minoring in Economics and Communication Studies.

She is currently an HR Assistant of the Style Shop, where she streamlines scheduling, contract management, and internal communications; monitors member performance trends, and coordinates recruitment, staffing, and onboarding process reducing turnover with talent acquisition. She is also a Club Collective Representative of the International Trade Student Association, where she supports new and existing members in navigating club's resources, and coordinates international trade-related events.

In addition to her contribution to ITM's activities, Nadia has also volunteered at NABVETS and the Montford Point Marine Chapter 17, by raising funds for veterans and helping to build awareness around mental health, and homelessness. Participation in the NABVETS Queen Contest has allowed her to connect with community members.

Spurred by lessons from the practicum, where she gained insights into global trade dynamics and the evolving economic landscape of a foreign country, after graduating from ITM, Nadia intends to pursue a career in international trade law. She also aims to pursue a Juris Doctor degree and practice at a local law firm specializing in intellectual property, trade law, or international arbitration.

Gherese Felipe has been awarded the Inside LVMH Certificate in addition to receiving multiple scholarships as a Presidential, Baker, Fashion Scholarship Fund, Philippine Pediatric Society, Jodi Oriel Leadership scholar, as well as being Gemini Shippers Association, World Trade Week, and The Pomeranz Family ITM 2025 scholarships' recipient.

» Read full Gherese's profile above (Gemini Shippers Association scholarship)

Join us in congratulating Nadia and Gherese as ITM’s new NYDEC WTW Next Generation Studies Grants recipients!

PVH Corporation ITM Scholarships

ITM is proud to announce that Giselle Mastrolonardo and Victoria Watson were selected as co-recipients of the 2025-2026 PVH Corp. ITM scholarships.

The recipients impressed the Committee with their shared values with PVH, embracing the company’s ethics and corporate responsibility goals and their understanding of related opportunities and impact in the industry.

Giselle Mastrolonardo is a multi-award-winning student, who has been recognized by the Sustainable Materials Management Syracuse University Program, receiving the Globally Connected @ FIT ZSTU China Scholarship, GROW NYC Volunteer Spotlight, #Don’tBeTrashy Campaign at FIT, first place at the HS Fashion Show Competition, and third place in Miami’s Annual Upcycled Design Competition.

She is currently an Archivist and Business Plan Intern at threeASFOUR and Leather Artisan at Jutta Neumann. Her varied experiences include Social Media Intern during New York Textile Month, volunteer for wine production at WWOOF Gaillac in France, and Sustainability Council member at FIT. She is also a Treasurer of the Sustainability Club and assisted Grow NYC in advocating for green initiatives at farmers' markets within the city. In addition, she helped with food distribution and promotion of the One Love Community Fridge during Sustainability Awareness Week and Sustainability Club meetings.

In addition to her ITM major, she is minoring in Ethics and Sustainability at FIT. Professionally, Giselle aims to gain experience in textile sourcing and sustainability strategy at a global company, working closely with suppliers, mills, and brands to ensure responsible production and improved traceability in supply chains. In particular, Giselle is interested in joining companies that are pioneering sustainable fabrics, regenerative agriculture, and closed-loop production systems.

Victoria Watson is currently working at ZEGNA, where she administers overall customer service, reports and analytics, product transfers, merchandise, courier systems and logistics. She was previously a Client Advisor at Goop by Gwyneth Paltrow, a Diamond Grader at GIA, an intern at East Photographic and artProduction, as well has freelance and self-employed experience with photography, styling, set production, and creative studio management.

She is an active member of the International Trade Student Association, the Sustainability Club, and Black Student Association at FIT as well as a volunteer at her church in Brooklyn, and New York Fashion Week events.

After completing an AAS with FIT’s Photography program, Victoria transferred to ITM, which inspired her to pursue a minor in Economics and an MBA later in her career. She's also earned an Inside LVMH Certificate on Creation, Branding, and Retail Customer Experience. Currently working for a luxury fashion brand, Victoria hopes to apply her studies into a senior business management position.

The Selection Committee included Ashley Smalls, Director of Early Career & Emerging Talent at PVH Corp.; Esther Murray, Principal Administrative Associate of NYC Department of Finance and ITM’2012; and Mabyani Dutra, Founder of DaCosta Verde, recipient of the PVH Corp. ITM scholarship in fiscal 2021 and ITM Medal Awardee in 2022.

Please join us in congratulating Victoria and Giselle as the new PVH Corp. ITM scholars!