“A full-time student at the University of Texas at Arlington and pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams, Muiz Ali is doing it all…”
A UTA Student Balances School and Co-Founding a Business
ABOUT MY ONE-MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
by Raymond Pierucci
Being a full-time student at the University of Texas at Arlington and pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams, Muiz Ali is doing it all. He runs his clothing company BLNK FACE with his two partners Reezan Jiwa and Ahil Punjwani. He credits having those two partners as a big reason he can pursue his degree and grow the business at the same time. He is pursuing a business degree at UTA and is set to graduate in Spring 2024.
Staying disciplined and having good time management helped him stay on top of his responsibilities without getting overwhelmed.
Ali is from the DFW area and wants to grow his brand to be recognized all over the world. His clothing company centers around streetwear fashion such as t-shirts and hats because he wanted to make clothes that people can wear every day. He has formed some relationships with NBA players such as Reggie Bullock and Ish Wainright and has been able to make some collaborative merchandise with them.
He does set aside time for a social life because it is important for him to have down time. In his down time, he likes to play basketball with his friends, play video games, and work out. His biggest accomplishment is seeing people that he does not know wear BLNK FACE’s products because to him it means that his and his partner’s hard work is paying off.
Meet Raymond Pierucci
Raymond Pierucci attends the University of Texas at Arlington, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Public Relations. He previously attended Mountain View College for two years, where he played on the baseball team and received his associate’s degree.
In addition to his studies and athletics, Raymond has worked as a communications intern for Volunteers of America Texas, supporting the organization with social media campaigns, newsletters, and media relations.
After graduation, Raymond intends to pursue a career in baseball, and during the off-season, he plans on establishing himself as a writer. His hobbies include watching and playing sports, outdoor adventures, and reading novels.
About AMA+UTA CreateCollab
Since the Fall 2022 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art has partnered with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by the museum’s mission, values, and exhibitions.
Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and brief audio stories.
Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith teaches the class. She values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.
“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to re-enforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”
