BY WALTER VILLA, Special to STU
St. Thomas University is making Lucia Battistel’s dream – and surely those of many others — come true.
Battistel is one of 18 students – all from STU’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program — who will travel to Italy this spring. The 11-day trip (May 17-28) will start in Venice, continue through Milan and Florence, and culminate in Rome.
“My excitement level is as high as it can be,” Battistel said. “This is my first trip to Europe. To be able to make this trip with my classmates who are also my close friends is incredible.
“But it’s even better that this is a fashion trip, and I will be learning about the behind-the-scenes work inside the industry.”
In order to make this dream trip a reality, STU’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program – led by director Ashlee Rzyczycki, Ph.D. – was out in full force this past Wednesday night at Acquolina Weston, an Italian restaurant in Broward County.
The event was called: “Runway to Rome, Evening at Acquolina,” and a percentage of the evening’s profits will directly support STU’s study-abroad initiative in Italy.
“This trip and others like it yet to come will empower our students to explore,” Professor Rzyczycki said. “This will expand our students’ education by exposing them to fashion hubs around the world.
“The event at Acquolina was an incredible success and a true testament to how the STU community comes together to support our students.”
Dr. Rzyczycki credited STU President David A. Armstrong, J.D., and STU Vice President of Philanthropy Scott Koskoski with helping make the partnership with Acquolina happen.
President Armstrong has a long-standing friendship with Sal Greco, the owner of Acquolina.
“My friend Sal and Acquolina have always been a place for local non-profits to raise money from wonderful people,” Armstrong said. “Sal and his team are all about making the community around them better.
“Acquolina is a special place to come to and enjoy family and friends while eating delicious food. We are honored that they are helping our students with their trip to Italy.”
The tie-in between a trip to Italy and a great Italian restaurant in Acquolina was an obvious match in the mind of Koskoski.
“I had an idea we could do a benefit night if we could engage Sal and get him to see our vision,” Koskoski said. “Fortunately for our students, he gets the mission.
“Sal is a remarkable and generous gentleman.”
While President Armstrong and Dr. Rzyczycki will make the trip to Italy, Koskoski said he backed out because he was needed at home base – STU.
“I decided that my best value to STU is to raise money so that our students can have this and other opportunities,” Koskoski said.
“Fashion is such a global industry. The connections our students need to make — these are not luxury connections. These are vital and critical opportunities for exposure.
“Our students have an advantage because we are based in Miami, which is quickly becoming the fashion capital of the country.
“But to be able to visit some of the fashion capitals of the world and to be able to build bridges, learn new things and set themselves up for career success – that is 100 percent why we’re doing this.”
You will get no argument from Battistel, a 21-year-old native of Argentina.
She initially came to Miami to study fashion at the Art Institute. But when that school closed, she enrolled at STU.
“When I found out that STU offered the opportunity to study abroad,” Battistel said, “that got my attention.”
Maria Jose Velasquez, a 24-year-old native of Venezuela, also came to STU from the Art Institute.
Velasquez, who aspires to become a fashion writer, said she greatly appreciates the help of Sal Greco at Acquolina.
“When you think about someone who is already successful in his industry, and he stops to support others,” Velasquez said of Greco, “it’s very sweet.”
As for her parents back in Venezuela, Velasquez said times are a bit tough.
“I felt selfish in a way to say yes to the trip to Italy,” Velasquez said. “But my parents are always happy to support me.”
Both Velasquez and Battistel said they are fortunate to have found St. Thomas University.
“I’ve been impressed with the amount of activities, exposure and possibilities that are available at STU,” Battistel said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to grow in my chosen field.
“At first, I wanted to be a designer and to have my own brand. But, at STU, I have become interested in the marketing side of the business. That’s why I want to study everything so I can have a clear view of the industry.
“Life is going to tell me where I’m supposed to be.”
