The 2026 Susan Sherman

Fashion Scholarship

Thank you for your interest in the Susan Sherman Scholarship!
The criteria for applying are outlined below.

Six $5,000 scholarships will be awarded to
those who fit this criteria and are selected by our committee.

The 2025 Susan Sherman Fashion Scholarship recipients are: (l-r of Susan Sherman, Co-Founder & Chair of Saint Louis Fashion Fund): Constance Anthony of Florissant, Zariah Taylor of St. Louis City, Bridget Stevenson of O’Fallon, and Shelby Schmutzler of St. Charles. Each recipient received a $5,000 scholarship. Scholarships are earmarked for students attending a Missouri college or university with an accredited fashion or fashion-related program. The awards ceremony takes place at Fashion Fund’s Annual “Fashion Futures Sendoff” in partnership with Caleres and Neiman Marcus.

 
2026 Susan Sherman Scholarship application
Press release
 

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in an accredited university or college in Missouri (including St. Louis Metropolitan area – see page 2 for metro area counties) and must have completed at least one full semester of coursework at the time of application.

  • Scholarship applicants must be enrolled in a recognized fashion program or other degree program relating to fashion, must have intentions of working in the fashion industry and must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

  • Proof of financial need

  • List of extracurricular activities

  • Recommendation letter from a teacher or professor. Limited to one page.

  • Submit a video (up to 3 minutes) to include a narrative: “Why I want to pursue a career in fashion” AND illustrations of their fashion work, or images or footage of their fashion collection.

 

NOTE: The application needs to include the applicant's name, email, cell or landline phone number, and home address, class year, college/university, as well as the name of the applicant’s parent or guardian.

 

Accepted Scholarship Categories (can fit in any or Multiple of the following categories):

  • Fashion Design – Clothing and accessory design

  • Fashion Merchandising – Marketing and management to build a fashion brand

  • Fashion Entrepreneurship – Entrepreneurial principles training to build business expertise to create a fashion business

  • Creatives – This category provides a wide spectrum of fashion education opportunities, i.e., beauty, photography, fashion journalism, sustainability, etc.

 

Please attach the following to your application:

  • Proof of financial need

  • Your most recent academic transcript

  • List of extracurricular activities

  • Recommendation letter from a teacher or professor

  • Video “Why I want to pursue a career in fashion”

  • Fashion illustrations, images, or footage of their fashion collection

 

Submissions Deadline:

5 p.m., May 15, 2026, and emailed to: Dwight Carter, dwight@brainchildevents.com. Scholarship recipients will be notified beginning July 1. Scholarship recipients and a parent/guardian are requested to attend a formal award presentation in St. Louis on July 30.

 

St. Louis Metropolitan Area includes 16 Counties in Illinois and Missouri

In Illinois
Calhoun • Clinton • Greene • Jersey • Macoupin • Madison • Monroe • Randolph • St. Clair

In Missouri
Franklin • Jefferson • Lincoln • St. Charles • St. Louis City • St. Louis • Warren

 
Download the Application here
 

Scholarship Terms & Conditions

  • Applicants must submit a completed application form, along with any required supporting documents, by the deadline specified by the Scholarship Committee in order to be eligible to receive the award. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.  Applicant represents and warrants that all information provided in connection with the applicant’s scholarship application is true and accurate to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief. - Scholarship funds shall be used to cover tuition, fees, books, and other education-related expenses and will be disbursed directly to the recipient.   Recipients are responsible for any tax obligations associated with the scholarship and should consult a tax professional for guidance.  Payment of the scholarship funds is the limit of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund’s obligation, and Saint Louis Fashion Fund has no obligation or liability to provide additional or further support to the scholarship recipient.

  • The scholarship recipient must remain in good academic standing to receive funding (if applicable).  The scholarship is forfeited if the student withdraws from the student’s academic program identified in the application, interrupts the continual course of study/program identified in the application, or changes course of study/program in a manner that is not in line with the eligibility criteria.

  • Applicant agrees that by applying for the scholarship, applicant grants Saint Louis Fashion Fund and its affiliates, successors and assigns, the irrevocable royalty-free permission in perpetuity to use the applicant’s name, voice, statements, likeness, photograph, application materials, and any other recording, video, or imagery throughout the universe for any purpose, including, without limitation, for its website, advertisements, marketing materials, Facebook page, other social media outlets, and other organizational materials and commercial purposes.

  • The scholarship is awarded without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law.

  • The Scholarship Committee reserves the right to modify, revoke or terminate the scholarship program at any time, for any lawful reason, with or without prior notice.

  • Applicant agrees to timely respond to any reasonable request for information made by Saint Louis Fashion Fund or its Scholarship Committee, including any request for academic records and records relating to the use of any scholarship funds.

  • By applying for the scholarship, applicants acknowledge and agree to abide by these terms and conditions and to comply with all applicable laws.