2024 World Trade Week NYC Studies Grants Announced

Three students have been selected to receive 2024 World Trade Week NYC Studies Grants.

Ana Dimas

Ana Dimas worked as a global sourcing and assistant fashion designer at Chevignon and fashion designer at Mix Blue, both in Colombia. In these past roles, she worked with international product development teams, assisted with material sourcing, and closely communicated with import/export department and warehouse teams.

In addition to her ITM major coursework, Dimas is pursuing minors in Economics, Latin American Studies, and Ethics & Sustainability.  Aiming to create a positive sustainability impact to move the fashion industry forward, she has affirmed ITM’s role in her ability to evaluate the industry’s challenges while deep diving into constant economic, political, and social changes to reach nuanced solutions and conclusions.

Dimas has volunteered at a number of ITM events, including Designed to Deliver: The 2023 International Trade & Marketing Forum, Talking Trade @FIT WITA Academy Pathways to Opportunity, the 2023 Apparel Importers Trade & Transportation Conference, and the field trip to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She also led a team of supporters at ITM’s The Changing Trade Flows for Apparel event.

To achieve her highest career goal of creating her own apparel sourcing firm, Dimas intends to build strong relationships with suppliers and businesses who are committed to supporting sustainable sourcing and manufacturing, fortify her involvement with the International Trade Student Association and the Ethics & Sustainability Club, as well as seek additional networking and professional development opportunities. She is seeking an internship to gain hands-on experience and strengthen her communication, critical thinking, leadership, team player, and strategic management skills. 

Dimas further plans to augment her studies with a Master of Professional Studies degree in Global Fashion Management and become a teacher.

Megan Antkoviak

Megan Antkoviak impressed the committee with her demonstrated leadership in and extensive contribution to the International Trade Student Association, where she has been organizing and promoting events. She also impressed the committee with her academic achievements and intent to earn minors in psychology, economics, and Ethics and Sustainability. She is currently a sewing instructor at Brooklyn Sewing Academy and assistant for multiple Backstage runway shows. Previously, as a studio assistant at Find Me Now Wholesale Company, Antkoviak conducted inventory management, package logistics, and warehouse communication, as well as the marketing and customer service through social media. She was sales associate, specialist, lead cashier, and sales lead manager at American Eagle Outfitters.

Megan has volunteered for The Honorable Tina Brozman Foundation for Ovarian Cancer by assisting in one to two fashion shows a year to empower women fighting against this condition. She has also volunteered during New York Fashion Week as a backstage assistant for Cesar Galindo, Korto Momolu, and Robyn Bandele. Within her own community, she volunteers at the Outreach Club, Cards for Hospitalized Kids, Housing Works, Fabscrap, Bring Smiles to Seniors, and The Walk to End Alzheimers.

After graduating from ITM, Antkoviak plans to own companies that value every single person affected by its actions. She aims to make a significant impact on people and the environment, as well as continue volunteering within the fashion industry. To foster her creative side, she hopes to be featured in some of the best museums around the world. 

Serena Lo

Lo is currently fabric intern at BCI Brands, where she in involved in project management, among several roles. She was Student Development and Activities Leadership Development intern at Marymount Manhattan College, where she collaborated and presented in the campus-wide “Lessons on Leadership Series” events that engaged with over thirty students. While at Marymount, she also served as secretary and social media marketing manager and peer leader for more than 20 first-year students throughout their transition to college and New York city living. Lo also served as a film intern.

Lo received recognition while serving at the San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team, benefited from the California Scholarship Federation 2021, was a student panelist at the Marymount Manhattan College Honors Day 2022 Analyzing Our Environs event, and earned the Inside LVMH Certificate with specialization in operations and supply chain, retail,  and customer experience.

Among her dozens of volunteer activities were those conducted at the Designed to Deliver: The 2023 International Trade & Marketing Forum, the 2023 Apparel Importers Trade & Transportation Conference, and NYFW EDGE: The Future of Fashion Tech for Laurenti. Lo is a member of the International Trade Student Association and aspires to be on its executive board going forward.

After graduating from ITM, Lo plans to pursue a career in supply chain management as a jewelry wholesaler/importer, logistics manager, or an international trade compliance specialist. As an Ethics and Sustainability minor student, she hopes to intersect this discipline with economics to promote "ethical practices and greater provenance  transparency."