WASHINGTON, 2016-Jul-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — The NRF Foundation today announced 25 semi-finalists for the Ray Greenly Scholarship, which provides financial support to students pursuing degrees in fields related to digital retailing. Five finalists will be announced at Retail’s Digital Summit in Dallas in September, with four students receiving a $10,000 scholarship each and one receiving $25,000.
“Digital retail is a field that cannot be ignored,” NRF Foundation Executive Director Ellen Davis said. “It is a fast-growing part of our industry that gives creative and passionate individuals the power to change the future of consumer buying and behavior. These students’ entrepreneurial spirits and pioneering vision will make them future leaders of the retail industry.”
Each applicant was required to go through two phases of the application process. Phase one required each student to submit an innovation essay, along with a two-minute personal brand video and their transcripts. For phase two, the NRF Foundation developed case studies with HSN, Nordstrom and REI, and executives from these companies hosted information sessions with the students assigned to their company’s case to answer questions and provide additional information related to the case study. Applicants were not required to be in a retail program or major to apply, but were encouraged to explain how their major relates to digital retail.
MEET THE CLASS OF 2016
Learn more about the Ray Greenly Scholarship and meet this year’s semi-finalists.
More than 75 retail executives were involved in selecting the semi-finalists based on the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated in their applications. A panel of executive judges will convene at September’s Summit to interview the semi-finalists and determine which will receive the four $10,000 scholarships and the top $25,000 scholarship.
The scholarship was established to honor former Shop.org Vice President Ray Greenly, who died of cancer in 2005. The program provides financial aid to students studying in fields such as engineering, computer science, marketing, business, e-commerce and economics.
The following students have been named semi-finalists. To learn more, click here.
Megan Blissick (Newark, DE)
University of Delaware
Cedar Brumm (Elsah, IL)
Principia College
Melodie Davis-Bundrage (Athens, GA)
University of Georgia
Kamaria Campbell (Chicago, IL)
University of Chicago
Emily Carrillo (Santa Clara, CA)
Santa Clara University
Isabella Costa (Savannah, GA)
Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah
Morgan Ginn (Gainesville, FL)
University of Florida
Katherine Hammes (Ithaca, NY)
Cornell University
Koleen Hernandez (New York, NY)
Fashion Institute of Technology
Jessica Landzberg (St. Louis, MO)
Washington University in St. Louis
Indy Lau (New York, NY)
Fashion Institute of Technology
Gracie Leung (Newark, DE)
University of Delaware
Ada Lio (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Pennsylvania
Amantha Lott (Savannah, GA)
Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah
Brian Lucksinger (Madison, WI)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jamie McTigue (Auburndale, MA)
Lasell College
Tim Miller (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Pennsylvania
Maria Alejandra Murillo (Atlanta, GA)
Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta
Giannina Ong (Santa Clara, CA)
Santa Clara University
Ce’Erica Roland Ferguson (Atlanta, GA)
Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta
Kaitlin Ross (Cambridge, MA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ashleigh Scheidler (Atlanta, GA)
Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta
Kaley Suero (Philadelphia, PA)
University of Pennsylvania
Austin Tolentino (Chicago, IL)
Loyola University Chicago
Kara Woodward (Kent, OH)
Kent State University
About the NRF Foundation
The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation, shaping retail’s future by building awareness of the industry through statistics and stories; developing talent through education, experiences and scholarships; and fostering career growth among people who work in retail.
Contact:
Ana Serafin Smith
(202) 626-8189
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press
Source: NRF