Centennial Scholar Kat Charrier ’26 Traveled Down Under Using Her Enrichment Funds

Studying fashion in Australia was more than a semester abroad for Kat Charrier. 

It was a step toward becoming a globally minded textile professional. During her time in Melbourne, she built international connections, explored the local art scene and gained a broader perspective on the textile industry.

Charrier achieved all of this, and more, thanks to her McMichael Family Centennial Scholarship.

Made possible through the North Carolina Textile Foundation, the Centennial Scholarship Program provides students with up to $22,000 in scholarship funding each year, beginning their first year on campus. As an out-of-state student, Charrier uses her Centennial Scholarship to afford attending NC State, where she can focus on her world-class textiles education instead of having to juggle multiple jobs. 

To the donor who made my Centennial Scholarship possible, I’d love to shake your hand and say thank you. Through your kindness, I have grown into a more confident, knowledgeable and culturally aware individual, both personally and professionally within the textile industry.

“To the donor who made my Centennial Scholarship possible, I’d love to shake your hand and say thank you,” says Charrier, a class of 2026 fashion and textile management student with a concentration in fashion development and product management. “Through your kindness, I have grown into a more confident, knowledgeable and culturally aware individual, both personally and professionally within the textile industry.”

The support Centennial Scholars receive doesn’t stop at their tuition assistance. An additional $7,500 in enrichment funding is also provided to maximize their college experience. Typically, students use the funds to study and intern abroad, participate in leadership programs and explore various career opportunities. 

This spring, Charrier used her enrichment funding to study fashion and textiles at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Melbourne, Australia. 

Below, she shares more about her life-changing experience of creating memories, traveling throughout Oceania and expanding her textile knowledge.

Can you tell us about your time studying abroad at RMIT in Melbourne?

Studying abroad at RMIT has been a life-changing experience. I’ve truly enjoyed my classes here because the professors genuinely care about their students and are deeply passionate about teaching. The connections I’ve developed with professors and fellow students have opened my eyes to a new world within my education and personal life. 

My time here has sparked an excitement for the unknown. Each day brings new opportunities in Melbourne – whether it’s attending free events hosted by RMIT’s student union, walking into a local bakery and learning about the owners’ heritage, or discovering a pop-up shop by a neighborhood artist. You never know what the day will hold, and that’s what makes Melbourne so exciting!

While in Australia, I’ve shopped for fabric in Melbourne and Sydney, traveled the Great Ocean Road, surfed at Phillips Island, fed kangaroos, saw wild koalas, dangled out of a scenic railway, drove an RV around the entire island of Tasmania, visited over seven national parks, and had the best banh mi sandwich. Before I returned to the United States, I also visited New Zealand, the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru Mountain in the Australian Outback. 

What was the most meaningful part of your enrichment experience?

The opportunity to gain new perspectives has been the most meaningful part of my enrichment experience. I’ve connected with classmates from dozens of different cultures and countries. I live in an apartment with five other people whose hometowns are in the U.S., Australia, Egypt, Malaysia and China. Living with them has been nothing short of an exciting roller coaster. Sure, there are times when the kitchen isn’t clean – but aside from that, getting to know their personalities and seeing how they live their lives has been incredible. One of my roommates now loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just like me! 

I am also incredibly appreciative to my professors for how they have welcomed me. One in particular went the extra mile by inviting me to an authentic Chinese restaurant, where we shared laughs and stories over prawn dumplings and chicken feet! I am so grateful for the opportunity to be immersed in such a vibrant and diverse community to widen my knowledge of the world.

If you could say anything to the donor who made this experience possible, what would you say?

I often reflect on who I was before arriving in Australia, and I see just how much I have grown since then. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to explore, learn and expand my global network. This experience has shaped who I am and who I want to be. Thank you for making it possible!

How will this experience contribute to your education and/or career growth?

Studying abroad has helped me discover new pathways in the textile industry. Professors here teaching textiles-related courses often advocate for gaining experience in entry-level retail jobs as a way to build a network and grow within a company.

I have also connected with local textile brands. I enjoy roaming the city, visiting clothing and accessory stores, and asking where their products are made. To my surprise, there are quite a few businesses with locally made products. A man I spoke with inside his leather shop explained how his bags were sewn in the homes of local seamstresses, helping him reduce the commute time for his workers and avoid the cost of a warehouse. This is such a smart, community-centered idea. 

Another company I talked with used Jacquard weaving machines to produce custom jackets. Initially, I was impressed by what seemed to be a sustainable business model, but as we talked, I realized they mass-produced their items overseas. That conversation helped me understand how to evaluate businesses more critically. These experiences have sharpened my ability to distinguish between ethical and misleading practices, which is a valuable skill as I begin my career in the textile industry.

This post was originally published in Wilson College of Textiles News.