Monday night, 30 minutes before a spirited runway walk, Oasis High senior, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Blusiewicz, watched as their team’s shark-dressed model surfs above the group for the yearbook’s TikTok account.
The creative designs worn by the students were created in hopes of winning Camp Orlando’s Shirt Design Contest, 22 teams competing to transform a plain white tee into stylish artworks, all within 45 minutes.
Blusiewicz’s team chose a “Shark Attack” theme to incorporate the school chant into their design.
Their two leading models included a bandage-covered victim chased by a model strutting a construction paper shark fin and held up by several team members.
The runway song choice: the familiar-to-all Jaws theme.
Whether it was a large group of middle schoolers or experienced senior publications, each team had their own innovative approach to their creation. The common denominator and one criterion given to competitors is the mandatory school spirit inclusion in their designs.
School spirit symbols like mascots and school colors were common themes in the shirts produced, along with pop culture trends and camp events.
Prior to their arrival, Angelina Academy journalists had prepared for the contest by packing a variety of materials: wands, crowns, wings, and light-up balls.
“Our colors are green and blue so we added our own twist to the fairy,” said sophomore Elise. Aside from a tee decorated with school colors, their finished outfit included blue, star-shaped glasses and a lime green tutu to showcase their spirit and create a cohesive design.
Also striving for an original approach, Lawton Chiles middle schoolers took inspiration from the upcoming Universal day to craft a unique, theme-based design.
The design involved two models identified as intelligent Lisa and slacker Bart Simpson, “that represents their whole school system, of the whole school being represented” said chaperone Danielle. The middle school’s environment allows for “all kinds of different attitudes and [reactions].”
This event is among one of the many Camp Orlando games and prize-winning opportunities. Like the fashion show, elements such as the spirit stick were added to the camp in order to give the young journalists a break from the jam-packed schedule they follow for the four day duration of this camp.
Campers shared several motivations behind their shirt designs, working together in hopes of having theirs named the best, earning the spirit flag, or the cash prize for top team award. Though not apparent to many, the dedication put towards the contest prepared the teams for the teamwork and creative skills needed as they design their next publications.
“Working together and listening to everybody’s ideas helps the shirt to be better,” Elise said. “We don’t argue, just figure out what the best possible situation is.”
