Karina Ramírez

Looking for a unique business suit? Consult Neil Marek.

The University of North Texas junior recently won a $5,000 scholarship in the national Design Your Future competition, open to fashion majors across the country.

Marek, a 2007 graduate of Katy High School, designed a military-inspired jacket made of Italian wool and featuring a mandarin collar and shoulder tabs with shank buttons as well as a V-neck sweater vest.

Just like in a professional fashion show, Marek walked out on to the runway at the end of the competition’s show with four other finalists selected from 30 institutions in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. The competition took place Nov. 1 during the association’s 23rd annual conference, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando.

Courtesy photo

University of North Texas junior Neil Marek’s design for a suit won him a $5,000 scholarship in the national Design Your Future competition.

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The award was presented by the association, Gap Inc. and Latina Style magazine.

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Standard Pacific Homes and American Legend Homes, both based in Dallas, will be building houses in Lantana, a 1,743-acre master-planned community in southern Denton County.

Standard Pacific will build 22 home sites in the Carlisle neighborhood of Lantana, according to a news release. American Legend purchased 31 homes sites in the Magnolia neighborhood.

Presales for the homes will begin early next year, with anticipated openings around March.

Located off FM407 west of FM2499, Lantana is home to more than 7,000 residents.

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Pat Sherman

Pat Sherman has become the new vice president of business development at DATCU. Previously the director of business development, Sherman joined DATCU in November 2005. 

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University and graduated from the Leadership Denton program in 2007. She is president-elect of Denton Community Theatre and chairwoman of the Denton school district’s Adopt-a-School Advisory Board and is active is other local organizations and boards, according to a news release.

Sherman and her husband, Jud, are Denton natives and have three grown children and one grandson.

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Gift cards seem to be on top of everyone’s wish list this year.

Already predicting a tight holiday season, the Wells Fargo Securities LLC Group announced last week that consumers expect to continue to cut back but still plan to give and receive.

This year, more than half of consumers, close to 55 percent, said they wanted gift cards and gift certificates for the holidays. The next top items include books, music, clothing and consumer electronics.

The least desired items: personal care, sports and leisure items, and home decor.

The data was compiled by BIGresearch, which conducted the survey between Sept. 30 and Oct. 7.

According to the survey, consumers look forward to getting those gift cards at their local grocery stores. They will shop where they find the best deals and sales and plan to spend an average of $682.74 each.

Coming up

“Power Networking: Working a Room and Building Relationships” will be the topic of speaker Fran Moore at the next Women Business Owners of Denton County’s monthly luncheon Tuesday at Oakmont Country Club in Corinth.

Registration and networking will begin at 11:30 a.m., with a luncheon and speaker following at noon. Registration is available online at www.wbodc.org.

Cost is $20 for members and $25 for guests. Attendees are asked to bring a small purse with a shoulder strap, business cards, a pen and notepad.

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Pep Boys in Denton will host a car show to raise funds for Toys for Tots and the United Service Organizations. The show will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 1605 Dallas Drive. For more information, call Charles Adkins at 940-380-0123.

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Tucker Communications will celebrate its fifth year with a business Christmas party and fundraising raffle from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 at 1200 Fort Worth Drive.

Raffle proceeds will benefit the Shepherd’s Hand, a nonprofit organization that reaches more than 6,000 people in need of food and clothing each month.

Tickets cost $20, and only 200 will be sold. Prizes include an Xbox 360 with five games, an Acer Netbook computer and a Visa gift card.

For more information, call Sheila Tucker at 940-566-3516.

KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com.