At Lands’ End Outfitters we provide uniforms for hundreds of thousands of K-12 students across America, apparel that helps instill the values they need to be successful in the classroom and beyond.
As part of that mission, we also provide the opportunity to participate in the Lands’ End School Starboard Scholarship program. The goal of the scholarship is to recognize the next generation of student leaders. Students attending Lands’ End Preferred Schools in grades 8 through 12 are eligible to apply for one of five scholarships worth $5,000 each for school or college tuition.
One of this year’s winners is Seanah Mireles, a sophomore at Saint Joseph Academy in Brownsville, TX. We asked Seanah to tell us how wearing a school uniform has shaped her journey as a student leader, her daily experience at school and her actions both in and outside the classroom.
Seanah recognizes the value of school uniforms in creating “a strong sense of unity and pride” within her school community. “The uniform serves as a symbol of our collective identity, promoting inclusivity and equity among students,” she says, adding that wearing a uniform has empowered her to “embody servant leadership, leading by example in upholding school policies and values.” She says that the uniform has also “influenced my actions beyond the classroom, reinforcing a commitment to representing our school with integrity.”
Seanah’s uniform has also helped her to shape her own identity. While some might argue that a school uniform limits personal expression, she makes a strong case for the opposite. “I believe that wearing a school uniform provides opportunities for students to be expressive in other ways,” she explains. “For example, I use my shoes to display my favorite Bible verse.”
Participating in the Chemistry Club, National Spanish and Science Honor Societies and playing basketball and volleyball for Saint Joseph Academy, Seanah has a full schedule every day. Her uniform has helped her prioritize her academics and athletics. “In high school I’ve had to focus on time management to afford myself the time needed to study and play sports,” she explains. Her school uniform has made her mornings easier. “Having a school uniform gives me one less thing to worry about,” she says, since she knows what she is going to wear every day. It also saves her from having to worry about “keeping up with the latest fashion.”
For Seanah, wearing her uniform is also a point of pride. “The school uniform helps me to identify proudly with our school,” she says. Most importantly, it makes her feel part of her school community. As with sports, she explains, it “shows unity and fosters a feeling of belonging.”
Hearing it from Seanah, it’s clear that a Lands’ End school uniform can make a powerful impact on a student’s high school career. Seanah, like thousands of other students, feels invested in her school’s values when she wears her uniform, which truly puts school pride into action. Most importantly, Lands’ End Outfitters provides uniforms that students enjoy wearing, since they are designed to feel comfortable, look great and help them stay focused on the things that matter most.
To learn more about Lands’ End school uniforms, visit https://www.landsend.com/schooladmin/
John Defalcois senior vice president of finance and operations at Lands’ End.school@landsend.com