Monday, April 24, 2017
Logan Gibson, a graduating senior at Pikesville High School near Baltimore and newly admitted UMES student, met her favorite social media personality, UMES senior Jayla Watson, at a recent open house on campus.
Gibson is smitten with UMES and Watson’s concentration in fashion merchandising, thanks to Instagram and YouTube posts Gibson has followed from the vlogger since she was in the eighth grade.
“I’m into fashion and came across her video, ‘College Life,’” Gibson said. “Jayla’s vlogs (giving) advice on being a freshmen inspired me. I was surprised how honest she was about life experiences, friends and advice on how to pick classes. She made amazing videos on fashion.”
Logan considered Bowie State and Woodbury universities, but was really interested in the Fashion Institute of Technology. UMES was her ticket.
“I saw that Jayla was in a program where she was able to stay close to home and still go to the Fashion Institute of Technology,” Gibson said. “I’ve been following her since and the Eastern Shore has been my number one choice.”
UMES’ fashion merchandising program “prepares students for entry-level management in the field with emphasis on the retail process of products and services.” Housed in the human ecology department, the program is a participant of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Visiting Student Program. UMES fashion merchandising majors can opt to spend their junior year at FIT in New York to add an associate degree in advertising and marketing communications to their UMES bachelor’s degree.
Watson, who has more than a quarter-million YouTube followers, will graduate in May. Like Gibson, she wanted a New York-inspired education in fashion with a reduced price tag. The UMES senior, who published a book “Pretty and Educated” last year and is working on a second, plans on opening an advertising and marketing firm for small businesses when she graduates. You can follow her on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram at @JaylaKoriyan.
–Special thanks to Kerry Carr and Sanada Spellman, UMES Office of Admissions and Recruitment and Ashley Collier, UMES social media coordinator.
