A crowd of about 600 people took every seat of the Harbor Island Ballroom at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina to watch the runway show of the 25th Golden Scissors Fashion Show and Awards on May 19.

The show is hosted each year to showcase the designs made by students in the Fashion Design Program.

This year, about 200 people were involved in putting the glamorous event together under the direction of fashion program’s professors Andrea Marx and Susan Lazear.

Fashion Promotion class student Chanelle Nager, who organized April’s Fashion Week, pointed out the importance of the event.

“The goal of the show is to produce a superior event, giving students the opportunity to gain valuable experience while promoting the Fashion Program and producing profit to provide for scholarship,” said Nager.

Nager and Ashley Personini, who is also a Fashion Promotion student, coordinated the event.

“The Golden Scissors Fashion Show was planned, prepared and produced by the Fashion Promotion class as a final assignment,” said Nager. “The students enrolled in the Fashion Promotion class began planning for the show during the beginning of the semester and started preparing for the event in depth two months in advance.”

Four committees were created to cover different sectors of the event-Model Committee, Silent Auction Committee, Production Committee and Publicity Committee.

According to Nager, other students and non-students including a special support from Multimedia students under the supervision of professor Alfonso Saballett were involved.

“People who also participated in the involvement included photographers, DJ, makeup and hair personnel, dressers and volunteers,” said Nager.

On the day of the show, the dressing room was already super busy with models being prepared by the makeup and hair personnel. Nager said preparation started long before that.

“All the models arrived at noon and participated in the walk through rehearsal until 3 p.m.,” she said. “At 3 p.m., makeup and hair arrived to prepare the models.”

Chris Hill, the proud father of aspiring model Katelyn Hill, arrived there before 4 p.m. While keeping his daughter company, he helped staff members of The Rock Star carry their sound equipment.

“I’m here to look at my daughter doing her first runway show,” he said. “But I look at other women too because I’m single.”

Katelyn Hill is a high school student who was invited to participate at Golden Scissors by professor Lazear. After the show, she got very excited with the fashion program.

“Since I am planning on going to a fashion college and becoming a fashion designer, I was interested in Mesa’s fashion program,” she said. “I was very impressed by the designers and their finished products for the fashion show.”

The Multimedia crew also arrived early to set up the computers to show a slide show in the two big flat panels set in both sides of the catwalk and to place the video equipment for the shootings.

The event started with a silent auction and a private party with a buffet style dinner served to VIP guests. A trio of two violinists and a cellist was performing there.

The actual show was opened with the speech of the producers Andrea Marx and Susan Lazear, followed by a slide show celebrating the 25 years of Golden Scissors.

During the show, 90 models showcased designers’ garments from a variety of scenes including sports and weekend wear, children’s wear, day and career wear, millinery, club wear, special occasion, evening wear, retro-redo, fantasy and collections. Guest designer Thomas Woodard presented a collection.

“The top favorite garment among students and judges was the cornhusk dress designed by Osbaldo Ahumada,” said Nager. “And, of course, the second place winner, the unforgettable skirt and top made of CD’s and batteries designed by Keith Antonio. Both of these garments were made for the non-fabric fantasy scene.”

A total of 29 prizes were awarded in the evening.

Nager was glad that the effort of so many people resulted in such a glamorous show.

“The tremendous success of this year’s show has earned a significant place in the 25 years of its history,” she said. “It will be remembered as the most successful year to date.”