SUNY Oneonta Student Elaisa Vinicio Completes Experiential Learning Project

SUNY Oneonta student Elaisa Vinicio, from The Bronx, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Sustainable Fashion Week."

Throughout the calendar year, SUNY Oneonta students put their classroom knowledge into action as they complete a wide range of experiential learning projects across every academic discipline. Whether studying fashion trends, conducting biological research, analyzing historical archives, working in professional accounting settings or participating in community-based fieldwork, students are gaining real-world experience that prepares them for career success.

These opportunities are supported through the university's Experiential Learning Center, located on the main floor of the Hunt Union. The center connects students with internships, research opportunities, global education experiences, volunteer programs and sustainability initiatives. By emphasizing hands-on engagement and practical skill development, the center ensures that experiential learning is woven into every major at SUNY Oneonta.

"Sustainable Fashion Week was an experiential learning project focused on promoting sustainability in the fashion industry through creative activities, research and community engagement. The project explored sustainable materials, ethical production practices and ways to reduce waste in fashion," said Vinicio, who is majoring in Fashion and Textiles.

"During this internship, I helped create promotional content and visual materials for Sustainable Fashion Week and the upcoming fashion show. I designed posters and social media content to help attract designers and increase awareness about the event. I also participated in brainstorming ideas, discussing marketing strategies and collaborating with others to prepare for the fashion show. Through these activities, I gained hands-on experience in fashion promotion and event preparation.

"From this experience, I learned how much planning and teamwork go into organizing a fashion event. I improved my design, communication, and marketing skills while creating promotional materials for the show. I also learned more about sustainability in fashion and how events like this can help spread awareness about ethical and environmentally friendly practices in the industry. This experience helped me become more confident working in a creative and professional environment.

"After this internship, I plan to continue gaining experience in fashion marketing, branding and event promotion. I want to continue building my creative and professional skills through future internships and projects related to the fashion industry. This experience also inspired me to learn more about sustainable fashion and how I can apply those ideas to my future career goals and business plans. In the future, I hope to continue working on creative projects that combine fashion, marketing and sustainability."

Students benefit from a robust network of campus offices housed within the Experiential Learning Center. The Career Planning and Networking Center helps students secure internships in locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Albany and Los Angeles, as well as with local businesses and nonprofits. The Office of Global Education offers programs ranging from 10-day faculty-led trips to full-year study abroad experiences, while the Office of Student Research and Creative Activity supports student research through grants and opportunities to present at the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase.

SUNY Oneonta invests heavily in helping students access these opportunities. Each year, the university awards more than $120,000 in grants to support student research, internships and travel to professional conferences. In addition, 23 study abroad and experiential scholarships help students participate in faculty-led programs, national competitions and industry events. Since the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year, the Career Planning and Networking Center has distributed over $319,500 in internship stipends to more than 400 students

To view these students click here: https://oneonta.meritpages.com/achievements/SUNY-Oneonta-Student-Elaisa-Vinicio-Completes-Experiential-Learning-Project/202832