Allison Anderson models designs by Cleveland Covington. The crowd grows quiet as the lights dim, and the runway is illuminated. Upbeat music begins to play, cameras are flashing in all directions, and models parade the runway. This is not a high- profile fashion show in New York City. It is Heathwood Hall Episcopal School's Cleveland Covington's senior exhibition presentation. This presentation is only one part of the exhibition process that demands hard work and good time management even as senioritis is at its worst.

As part of their graduation requirements, seniors at Heathwood must embark on a yearlong thesis- style research project on the approved topic they choose. There are two parts to the exhibition: the paper and presentation. They are a culmination of the seniors' accomplishments during their time at Heathwood. The process prepares the students for more independent work in college.

There is an exhibition committee for each senior consisting of four people: the senior's homeroom advisor; an "inside expert" who works at the school; an "outside" expert; and a junior student, who observes the process to better prepare for his/her senior year. The paper must be completed and turned in before the presentation which is a celebration of the yearlong work and a chance to display the work.

Suzanne Hampton models a silk top made of recovered fabric from a famous designer's previous collection. This year there was a wide range of topics from a class of 60 students, including childhood obesity, Japanese animation, global climate change, and shark attacks.

Covington's topic was inspired by her love for designing and creating clothes. Her exhibition title also reflects that: "Project Runway: From the Beginning Phases of a Collection to the Final Product."

In Cleveland's previous years of high school, she participated in three different internships in New York City, including one at a 12- designer showroom, which helped fuel her love for designing clothes. However, it wasn't until a weeklong program she attended last summer at the Savannah College of Art and Design that she finally decided on an exhibition topic. There, she learned more about the art of designing and actually making various clothes. "Before the program at SCAD, I never thought I would actually make the clothes I sketched; I thought I would just design them. That really had a big impact," said Covington.

Mary Lane Sloan models a blouse with sequin accessories. From the start, she had a vision of showcasing her pieces in a fashion show- - type setting. However, she faced the obstacle of getting the idea approved by her advisor, Dr. Anne Weston, because this particular topic was rare for a senior exhibition. Her committee suggested she present three or four pieces from her final collection, but Covington knew she could complete at least 15 pieces. She learned roughly two years of sewing skills in two weeks thanks to Frenchie Bunch. She spent a year constructing the pieces she had worked so hard to design. At the time of her fashion show presentation, she had made 16 pieces.

With materials from House of Fabrics in Colum- bia and Mood in New York, she completed an impressive display of tops, skirts, and evening dresses that were made to fit each one of her models in the fashion show.

Cleveland Covington, fashion designer, describes her collection of classic pieces to a full audience during the Senior Symposium at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. The inspiration for her classic pieces came from the antique and vintage styles of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Oscar de la Renta, and Chanel. She restored several antique fabrics to make a beautiful beaded dress and another longer evening dress. Based on the "oohs" and "ahs" coming from the crowd, favorites included a black silk evening gown with a cinched bottom, a shimmery two- layer gold dress, and a beige ruffled top.

The setting of Covington's presentation was another highlight of her exhibition. Covington with the help of her grandfather, Jim Covington, transformed the seldom used school amphitheater into a fashion arena, complete with a homemade runway with lights, curtains, and ferns as a backdrop, a sound system, and a backstage dressing room area with mirrors and refreshments for the models.

Photos by Coates Crewe Suzanne Hampton, manager of Max and Prissy; Melissa Blanchard of Van Jean and Pout; Cleveland Covington, fashion designer; Mary Lane Sloan of Prudential Real Estate; and Allison Anderson of Van Jean. Covington also designed and made the dress she is wearing. Covington's presentation was the first of its kind at Heathwood. She has set the standard high for seniors in the years to come.