Congratulations to Suzanne Dinusson (Retail Merchandising Program Coordinator) and the Retail Merchandising and Interior Decorating students.

Suzanne and her students were recently recognized and presented with an award by Captain Thomas McComb of the Rochester Salvation Army as a thank you for the over 400 hours of work they have done fall semester for the Grand Opening of the new Salvation Army Thrift Store. Over the last few months students selected paint colors, found a local paint store (Struves, who discounted the paint) and painted the walls of the new location. Other students created a visual display area in the front window of the store building, elevated space, located wood, and installed carpet from Carpet One. Another person built a visual display space.

The students also found fabric to drape through the window in the colors of the Salvation Army, and secured mannequins from Talbots. Students merchandised both clothing and home items. Hangers were secured by students from retailers where they work such as Old Navy and Macy's. Hanny's donated men's wood pant hangers to hold signs indicting categories of clothing on each rack. Color wheel bracelets were created by a student so that when merchandising clothing, the clothes would be hung by style and color.

Rachel Pierce, a student in the Retail Merchandising Interior Decorating program, and an employee of Home Depot continues to go to the Salvation Army every Tuesday at 9:00 AM to redo the visual display window.

Way to go, Suzanne and your students! And a special thank you to the local businesses for their support of this project.