Apparel Merchandising Student Callahan Earns WIT Scholarship for My Life As Doll Project

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India Callahan

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — India Callahan, a senior apparel merchandising and product development major at the U of A, has been named a 2017 scholarship winner by Women in Toys Foundation Inc.

The WIT Foundation honors achievements of women studying in fields of toy design, engineering, entrepreneurship and business with the purpose of highlighting students in toy-related careers.

Callahan's scholarship is for $2,500. Nominated by the AMPD committee in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences, her work includes the class project where students created and designed clothes and costumes for Walmart's My Life As dolls. Callahan's hip-hop dance outfit was one of 12 student designs selected and sold with the dolls by the retailer.

"Students were divided into different categories and challenged to create a doll outfit for the spring season," said Callahan, who is from Dumas. "I was in the active wear category, so I created a hip-hop outfit that included harem trousers and a pink mesh hoodie-tank. This project really gave me insight on what it is like to design from a corporate level. I am humbly thankful for Walmart's partnership with our apparel program and for this amazing experience."

Callahan was formally announced at the annual Wonder Women of Toys Awards gala event at the New York Toy Fair in February.

"We are thrilled that our apparel merchandising and product development program was asked to partner with Women in Toys to name a scholarship recipient to honor outstanding women," said Kathy Smith, assistant director of the School of Human Environmental Sciences and clinical associate professor. "This invitation was a result of our partnership with Walmart and a class project in the toy department. India exemplifies true passion and dedication in her chosen vocation. We are pleased to honor one of our outstanding students for this prestigious scholarship."

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.