Communication Studies Major Inspires Others With Winning Design

Posted by: admin on March 15, 2013, No Comments

Samantha Swank, an East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania communications studies major from York, Pa., shows the tennis outfit design that won her an award in a contest sponsored by sportswear company FILA. Top-ranked FILA player Jelena Jankovic will wear the outfit when she competes in the 2013 Sony Open in Miami, March 18-31. Swank will attend the competition.

ESU Junior Designs Tennis Outfit To Be Worn By Jelena Jankovic

A tennis outfit designed by an East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) student will be worn by one of the top female tennis players in the world at an upcoming competition. Samantha Swank, an ESU junior, recently won a contest sponsored by sportswear company FILA. She designed a tennis outfit that will be worn by Jelena Jankovic from Serbia, the top player for FILA , who will compete in the 2013 Sony Open in Miami. Swank will attend the competition, which will take place from March 18-31, 2013.

Swank, from York, Pennsylvania, is majoring in communication studies with a concentration in public relations. Prior to enrolling at ESU, she attended The Art Institute of Philadelphia where she graduated with an associate’s degree in fashion. Before she graduated, her Art Institute adviser suggested that she enter the contest. She found out she was a finalist in June 2012.
Her family is her inspiration in all of her designs. The back of the outfit was made to resemble a human spine. Her father is a chiropractic neurologist and growing up, Swank had always been amazed by the human skeleton and its organs. The way the back of the design wraps around to the front resembles and is inspired by human nerves.

While she attended The Art Institute, Swank had an internship at Ariela-Alpha International. She loved working with people in the public relations department, which motivated her to study in this major. Swank is a member of the student-run ESU Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). Her future plans are to work for a public relations company and open her own boutique featuring her own designs. Her dream job would be to work for Timo Weiland, who is her favorite designer.

PRSSA’s mission is to provide students with an understanding of current theories and practices, encourage the highest ideals and principles, instill a professional attitude, encourage students to network with public relations professionals and obtain an accredited PRSA membership. PRSSA meets Tuesdays in Stroud Hall, room 302, at 2 p.m.

For more information about the FILA contest, contact Mariah McAndrew, treasurer of PRSSA, at 570-335-3424 or by email at Mem0644@live.esu.edu, or Cem Zeytinoglu, associate professor of communication studies, at 570-422-3911 or by email at czeytinoglu@esu.edu.