Rockwall ISD fashion design students qualify for TSA nationals first time

Three Rockwall ISD students from the Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy are headed to the Technology Student Association national competition after finishing second in Texas in fashion design and technology. Senior Perla Ramos and sophomores Jadyn Villalva and Janine Pierpoint will represent Texas in the Washington, D.C. area from June 22-26, marking the first time the school’s fashion design program has reached TSA nationals.

The district announced the milestone on June 11, and fashion design teacher Renee Aube said the trio met a demanding standard to get there. “These three dedicated and creative young ladies rose to the challenge in what proved to be an extremely competitive and demanding event,” Aube said. Their state finish in April was enough to advance them from Texas competition to the national stage.

That path matters at Rockwall ISD because the fashion design program sits inside the Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy, where students are trained in a setting built around workforce readiness as much as academics. The academy serves about 3,300 students and offers 11 career clusters, multiple programs of study and 48 professional certifications, giving students a route into technical fields that do not always follow a traditional four-year college track.

The TSA competition itself is built around more than design flair. In Rockwall ISD’s previous fashion design competition, students had to create a wearable garment, develop patterns, prepare a documentation portfolio, produce five hand sketches and five digital sketches, build a theme inspiration, and deliver a five-minute speech before answering judges’ questions. The district’s earlier team success showed the level of preparation required: eight fashion design students competed in three teams, all eight placed in the top five at regionals, and one team advanced to state after winning its event.

Texas TSA says the state contest is overseen under Texas Education Agency authority and includes business meetings, officer elections, project competition and student competitive events. Students move from regional contests to the state competition in Fort Worth before advancing toward nationals. The organization also promotes STEM competitions, leadership opportunities, scholarships and awards, and networking with industry professionals, all of which give the Rockwall students a broader platform than a single contest.

For Rockwall County families and employers, the first nationals berth signals more than a trophy chase. It shows that a program centered on design, technical drafting, presentation and problem solving can produce students ready for rigorous performance in a real competitive field. Texas chapters posted 77 Top Ten Finalists, eight second places, six third places and five national champions at the 2025 TSA nationals, a reminder of the level of competition Ramos, Villalva and Pierpoint will enter next week.