Grant Recipient’s Name:
Lorien Eck, M.Ed., NBCT
Grant Recipient’s High School, City & State:
West Adams Preparatory High School, Los Angeles, California
Educators & Departments:
Lorien Eck, Art, and Celia Rios, Social Studies
Classes represented:
Design Crafts AB; Sculpture 1AB; and "Fashion Overdose," the West Adams Fashion Club
Number of students: 77
How would you describe your overall experience?
The overall experience of visiting FIDM was fabulous. The fact that we went to every single floor, the Annex, the FIDM Scholarship Store, and the surrounding area/Hope Park was just great. The West Adams students were out in the Park during the busy FIDM Spirit Week, and some of them even took part in the activities with the FIDM Students.
What aspect of the tour did your students respond to most favorably?
The aspect of the FIDM experience that the students responded to most favorably was the Research Library, the Vogue magazine collection, the visit to the Annex, the Betsy Bloomingdale croquie collection, and the Scholarship Store.
What three things did you find out about FIDM that you didn’t know before?
(1) how the surrounding area downtown was clean and friendly and the campus itself was well-designed,
(2) the Annex installation, and
(3) how the Scholarship Store offers a range of clothing, accessories, and fabric remnants at a reasonable price
What aspect of the tour did you find the most exciting?
What inspired me was the industriousness and seriousness that the FIDM Students displayed and the creativity coming out of the classrooms. It was fun to see the draping room and the knit room with all of the yarn and the looms. Also, I really appreciated the Library; there is a fantastic collection of books, and the archives of periodicals were great! I would love to have access to the Library not to check items out, but simply for reference and reading pleasure.
The FIDM Field Trip Grant is a viable and very worthwhile grant to apply for. The trip itself is very inspirational for the students and the chaperones.
