SSU Groups Create Fundraiser Through International Fashion Show

Salem State University’s Spanish Club and sorority Fi Sigma Yoda collaborated to organize a fundraiser by holding an international fashion show March 23 sponsored by Quincy Fashion. The event was held in the Marsh Hall cafeteria.

The two groups have raised $618 so far, which goes towards a scholarship that will be given away to a SSU student.

The Spanish Club’s e-board will hold a meeting at a later time to decide the exact criteria for the scholarship.

One of the main reasons the two groups decided to create this fundraiser was because the groups wanted to give something back to the school for supporting the groups and clubs and allowing them to make it possible.

This was the first time in the university’s history that a national honor society was a part of a fashion show, as Fi Sigma Yoda is the National Honor Society of foreign languages at SSU.

Foteini Ventouris, president of the Spanish Club and a member of Fi Sigma Yoda, said she wanted to make this a free event so that people can just come and enjoy the fashion show.

According to Ventouris, about 50 people attended the fashion show.

The Spanish Club has been around for a while, but when Ventouris was able to establish it there was no budget. In fact, costs for every event that they held came out of the members’pockets.

“Without the support of the members, and my editorial board, all this progress wouldn’t be possible,” Venouris said.

She added that she wanted to re-establish the Spanish Club, because she wanted to make a difference and get the department of foreign languages name out there.

“The Spanish club isn’t only for Spanish speaking people; it’s for everyone,” Ventouris added.

“I really like the fact that different majors have common interests and can come together for a good purpose,” said Tania Tranfaglia, secretary of the Spanish Club and a Business Management major.

The fashion show consisted of 11 female models from SSU and other universities.

Quincy Fashion allowed the models to sport their clothing in the fashion show and there were two different looks that were chosen by the president of the club.

The first style of clothing was casual wear, and the second was formal or business.

Marielba Arias, a member of the Spanish Club and Fi Sigma Yoda, took part in the fashion show as a model.

“It felt great to have such a successful outcome and everyone was very proud of the performance and effort,” Arias said. “I felt like I was a real model.”

During intermission, G3L, an improvisation group and the official hosts of the fashion show performed.

At the end of the show, there were two handmade dolls and a red and gold Versace handbag raffled off to people who contributed donations.

Some other events that the Spanish Club has held are salsa classes, movie nights, and “The Fairy Godmother Project,” which is a non-profit organization that donates prom dresses and shoes to low-income families.

The Spanish Club is also looking for members to take over the editorial board after the current members graduate. “We need passionate people to take over so we can continue our mission,” Ventouris said.

Scholarship donations are still being taken by Foreign Languages professor Kristine Doll. She can be contacted at kristine.doll@salemstate.edu.