A Nashoba Tech student design was chosen to promote the fashion show

Air Pedro Mendez is a sophomore in Nashoba Tech’s Design and Visual Communications program. (Courtesy of Nashoba Tech)

WESTFORD – Pedro Mendez may not know much about the fashion world. But he knows his way around graphic design.

Pedro, a sophomore in the design and visual communications program at Nashoba Valley Technical High School, was a special guest at a recent fashion fundraiser whose design was chosen to be used as a promotional flyer for the event.

The annual fashion show is curated by Jody Lassonde and Lori Dillon. The two were looking for an appropriate design to include in the show’s promotional material.

The show was held on March 18 at the Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center, and Pedro and his mother received free tickets as prizes for the winning flight design.

“I was so happy, I was so proud,” Ayer resident Pedro said of the email he received from Lassonde to tell him his design had been selected. “She gave us some pictures and showed us some past designs. I had the idea, and I made little changes until I finished it.”

Looking for a design for a flashback, Lassonde and Dillon approached Design and Visual Communications teacher Nathan Meharg, who, in turn, challenged high school students to design their own flyers. The show raises money each year for a different department or program at Boston Children’s Hospital. This year’s event benefited those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as the agency Clip Path for Veterans.

“Laurie and I received seven proposed flyers, all of which were good,” Lassonde said. But Pedro’s stood out. We loved the theme of the event, ‘The World’s Stage – Challenging the Label’, on the flyer and how the coloring matched and placed the PTSD ribbon.

Meharg said he felt Pedro’s design was the right choice.

“Pedro’s design really had the right look and feel for the show, and he did a great job overall, so I wasn’t surprised when his was chosen,” Meharg said. “This set the visual tone for the rest of the project, and everyone worked as a team to put the tickets and schedules together.”

“Working with Nathan Meharg, Pedro and the entire department has been an incredible experience,” Lassonde said. “We can’t wait to work with them for the next charity fashion show.”