By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Sep 02, 2010 at 11:44 AM

As we reported back in June, the new Art Institute of Wisconsin opens in Milwaukee's Third Ward on Oct. 4.

The school announced plans today to join the national Passion for Fashion competition to offer tuition scholarships to high school students interested in fashion design.

"We believe the competition provides a unique opportunity to those interested in a fashion education and a forum to express their full range of talent," said Bill Johnson, president of The Art Institute of Wisconsin.

"Past Passion for Fashion competitions have proven to be the perfect arena to showcase the creative energy from students, and we look forward to offering that same opportunity to students interested in attending The Art Institute of Wisconsin."

The Passion for Fashion competition consists of two separate categories at the national level: fashion design and fashion marketing. Local competitions will take place at each participating Art Institute school in the U.S. and Canada. The competition at The Art Institute of Wisconsin will focus only on fashion marketing, which is offered in a four-year bachelor's degree program.

The local winner will earn a $3,000 tuition scholarship to the school and move on to the national competition to compete for a full tuition scholarship to The Art Institute of Wisconsin.

Additionally, the grand prize winners will receive a VIP trip to Fashion Week in New York City in February 2011, participate in a "meet and greet" at Seventeen Magazine's New York City offices, and have lunch with a Seventeen Magazine style pro.

Applicants must submit their entries along with a completed Entry & Release Form to The Art Institute of Wisconsin, 320 E. Buffalo St. Milwaukee, WI 53202 by Nov. 19.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”