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"Jesse was a very good student, very creative," says Jamie Stone, Program Director of Virginia College's Interior Design program. "He was President of the ASID Student Chapter and was a student designer for the 1999 Decorator's ShowHouse."

Champion's hometown newspaper, The Jackson, Mississippi, Clarion Ledger also recently featured his career and participation in the TV show challenge in a story. You may read it by clicking HERE.

HGTV's hit television series "HGTV Design Star" goes Hollywood in its eagerly anticipated fourth season, premiering on Sunday, July 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. And this year, Virginia College students and staff can pull for one of their own.

In the first episode, viewers will meet ten fiercely competitive and creative finalists who have designs on winning their own show on HGTV. The group includes Antonio Ballatore, Los Angeles; NataLee Callahan, Salt Lake City; Jason Champion, Sarasota, Fla.; Nathan Galui, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Jen Guerin, San Diego; Jany Lee, Dallas; Tashica Morgan, Bowie, Md.; Lonni Paul, Los Angeles; Amy Sklar, Los Angeles; and Dan Vickery, Portland, Ore. In addition, for the first time in the series' run, the ten competitors will decide which one of three semifinalists will join the competition. Jason Champion is a graduate of the Interior Design program at Virginia College in Birmingham, Alabama.

All of the finalists have enjoyed successful design careers and range in experience from interior designers and home stagers to architects and artists. Each one is ready to dazzle the new judging panel of interior design luminaries featuring Genevieve Gorder (Dear Genevieve), Candice Olson (Divine Design) and returning judge Vern Yip (Deserving Design). Hosted by Clive Pearse, the hour-long series, taped in Los Angeles, will air on Sundays through September 13.

"The finalists featured in this season's 'HGTV Design Star' are extraordinarily talented and ready to do whatever it takes to win," said James Bolosh, vice president, event programming, HGTV. "With so many strong personalities involved, we have no doubt that viewers will be captivated and entertained by the competition."

Beginning June 1, HGTV.com will invite viewers to extend their viewing experience online by visiting the HGTV Design Star show page. Online visitors will find special interactive features and a "virtual judging" experience that allows them to rate the finalists' work.

In addition to a 15-year career as a designer, Jason Champion, an entrepreneur, also is a stylist and product designer. He describes his personal style as vibrant, eclectic and comfortable, but says he is a design visionary for his clients and can create beautiful rooms in any style. After graduating from Virginia College with a degree in applied arts, Jason relocated to Sarasota, Fla., with his partner and two dogs. Jason also works as a radio host of a weekly design show and writes a regular column for a gardening magazine.