The recipients of the 2009 Suit Yourself stipends are Breandon St. John ’09 (Electrical Engineering), Victoria Geller ’09 (Finance, Management), Kimberly Arango ’09 (Communication and Media), Katya Izzard ’09 (Communication Disorders), Clara Enuma ’09 (Electrical Engineering), Erika Savage ’09 (Sociology - Human Services), Tiffany Fox ’09 (Marketing and Finance), Meghan Drew ’09 (Adolescence Education – English) and Jeremy Demick ’09 (Psychology). Photo submitted

Tonda Highley, associate dean of student advising and director of the career resource center, said the need-based program, now in its second year, was created in response to feedback from employers. In researching such a program, Highley found that most programs offer a clothes closet for students to access before an interview.

“Our approach would be a long-term investment in our students’ futures, as opposed to a short-term solution,” said Highley.

Students must apply for the award, which is funded by Campus Auxiliary Services (CAS). The program provides students with a $200 stipend to purchase a professional suit and, money permitting, accessories. Students must shop for themselves, but receive guidance in the form of appropriate stores and items. They return to the center with their clothing, which has to be approved by the staff.

This year’s winners debuted their new professional looks at an event paired with the Serving Up Success program. At the event, students received a dining etiquette lesson from Mohamad Charafeddine, general manager of residence dining at Marist College and former director of residence life dining at New Paltz.

Clara Enuma ’09 (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics), one of this year’s winners, said having new professional attire means a lot to her because she attends many professional events as an engineering student. She purchased three suits with her award and has already put them to good use. She wore two of the suits at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) convention in Las Vegas. In the fall, Enuma will begin full-time employment at the United Illuminating Company in Shelton, Conn.