Junior fashion design major Kim Pham was chosen to represent the U.S. in the International Fur REMIX Competition in March in Milan, Italy.

In the competition, sponsored by the International Fur Trade Federation, she designed a coat that was later manufactured by the Dennis Basso design team, accompanied by a matching handbag that she made herself.

Pham, an Emerald Eagle Scholar who came to the U.S. from Vietnam, hopes to launch her own clothing line someday.

“This whole experience has been so surreal to me, especially for someone my age and with my background,” she says.

“I still can’t believe that I made it as far as I did.”