One lucky student walked away with a basketball signed by the UA men’s basketball team while other students got tips on how to project a professional image at last night’s Dress Like a Pro Fashion Show.

The event was put on by professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi and the Eller Pre-Professional Students Association. It was held at 7 in Social Sciences building, Room 100, with about 40 students in attendance.

Arlene Yu, vice president of activities for Delta Sigma Pi, said the fraternity decided to do the fashion show now because career fairs and showcases are coming up. This is also the time of year when students start interviewing for jobs, she said.

The event featured members of both organizations modeling men’s and women’s career wear. Models showed the dos and don’ts of dressing for both business casual and business professional situations.

Two models strutted down the stage at a time and while a disc jockey played music, one model showed inappropriate business wear, while the other showed the correct way to dress.

Yu, a marketing senior, said the outfits were put together from students’ closets.

Don’ts for women included short skirts, lace and “”chunky”” shoes.

Don’ts for men included shorts and popped collars.

Yu said they were expecting more people at the event, but she was happy that it ran so smoothly.

Everyone in the business school is told how to dress for interviews, but students in other colleges may not get the same advice, Yu said.

She also added that for an interview, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.

“”It’s always better to be classic, traditional and conservative,”” she said.

Steven Lorch, vice president of fundraising for Delta Sigma Pi, said some of the most common errors made by students when interviewing include not wearing a belt, not having clean shoes or not wearing dress socks.

“”They notice the little stuff,”” he said. “”Be confident in what you’re wearing and it’s going to give you an edge.””

More than $500 in prizes was raffled off at the event, with a name being drawn every few minutes.

Along with the signed basketball, provided by Arizona Athletics, there were prizes from Clinique, Sam Hughes’ Place, Starr Pass Country Club & Spa, Marcusi Beauty Spa, T.G.I. Friday’s, A’s Designs, goclothing, Pei Wei Asian Diner and Cheba Hut “”Toasted”” Subs. All prizes were donated.

Admission to the event was $3, which included a raffle ticket. Other raffle tickets could be purchased inside for $2.

Marketing senior Elyse Flynn took home the signed basketball and joked about auctioning it off to the highest bidder.

Flynn, a member of Delta Sigma Pi, said the fashion show helped her clarify the difference between business professional and business casual.

Art history junior Page Mahan said she learned that bright colors aren’t good for interviews.

Last year the Eller Pre-Professional Students Association put on the fashion show and two years ago it was put on by Delta Sigma Pi, said Dan O’Shea, president of Delta Sigma Pi.

O’Shea, a finance senior, said the two groups decided it would be beneficial to work together, and added that they hope to make the fashion show an annual event.

The Eller Pre-Professional Students Association is a club for students who have not yet been accepted to the Eller School of Business. Many of its members are also pledges of Delta Sigma Pi.

O’Shea said money raised at the fashion show will be used by both organizations to pay for workshops along with volunteer and recruiting activities put on throughout the year.

Yu said students in the business fraternity gain skills through the workshops, which focus on business etiquette, interviewing skills and writing resumes. Along with workshops the organization brings in speakers from the business world. Six speakers have already been booked for this semester.

Delta Sigma Pi was named the Eller Organization of 2004 and O’Shea said the fraternity is hoping for the 2005 title as well.

Delta Sigma Pi will be co-sponsoring the Eller Career Showcase, which will be held later this month. There will be more than 70 companies represented at the event, O’Shea said.