MADISON – Students from Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools recently completed a tour of the fashion capital of the country — New York City.

Their entourage also included students from Athens and Arab high schools, along with Bob Jones sponsor Kristy Wheeler and parent chaperones. Wheeler teaches family and consumer sciences classes at Bob Jones and sponsors Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

“Our goal was to immerse students with as much fashion and New York City culture as possible in four days,” Wheeler said. “Students spoke with many fashion insiders at Nanette Lepore, Macy’s, Ann Taylor and with a Broadway costume designer and manufacturers of jewelry.”

Their tour featured stops at numerous other fashion-oriented locations in New York City.

“A ‘Project Runway’ game at the famous ‘Mood Fabrics’ had students running to be the next top fashion designer before getting to see exhibits at the Fashion Institute of Technology,” Wheeler said.

“Of course, a fashion tour is not complete without shopping,” she said. “Even after a day on Fifth Avenue, Soho, Chinatown and countless samples sales, students wanted more shopping.”

The group toured Radio City Music Hall, Grand Central Station, the Empire State Building, Times Square and “basically all of New York,” Wheeler said. “Most students would say the Broadway show ‘Matilda’ and visiting the 9/11 Memorial were among their favorite NYC activities.”

“This trip was a great learning experience for all people involved,” Wheeler said.