Ambitious students from NRF University member schools competed to represent the next generation of retail leaders.
Retail executives from 17 companies selected 25 semifinalists who rose to the top after submitting an essay, a personal brand video and two letters of recommendation from their employers and educators. These students completed an exclusive case study created in collaboration with Nordstrom and two phone interviews with retail partners for the chance to advance to the final round of competition. The 25 semifinalists also received a $1,000 travel stipend award for their achievements to attend the 2024 Student Program in New York City.
The top recipient for the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship received a $25,000 scholarship; four finalists each received $10,000 scholarships.
Top Recipient
"This experience has helped kickstart my career," said Kev, a business and fashion student from Indiana University. "Retail is a place where all of us connect. It's a place where all of us get a chance to come together and uplift each other."
Watch to find out Kev's advice for what it takes to enter, and become the top recipient of, the NRF Foundation Next Generation scholarship.
Finalists
Cali Burns is the first University of Missouri student to join the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship competition. "I really felt a connection with the prompt and was excited to write and share my idea," said Burns.
Between networking with retail leaders and making connections with other students, find out why she tells people to, "go for it," when their deciding whether to enter the program.
"I've always know I wanted to go into fashion merchandising," said the LIM College junior. Nervous about her entry, it was a former finalist who gave Camara the steadying advice, "You have it. You can do it and I think you'll be really, really great."
In Camara's words, the Next Generation Scholarship competition is important because it can help build a young professional's confidence. Find out more about this future retail superstar.
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, D'Ostilio became passionate about retail as a child, watching her family operate their men's wear store and hearing the experiences of the 2023 finalists drove D'Ostilio to apply for 2024. "It allowed me to see myself completing and achieving that dream."
"I'm starting my career with people that have my back and are really cheering me on." Watch for more about her experience in the competition.
Studying Marketing and Design, Lee appreciates how the Next Generation competition expanded her network and introduced her to like-minded individuals, also passionate about retail. "A great career for me would be to eventually become a senior director of marketing at an influential and growing company," said Lee.
Her advice? "Even if your just considering, definately apply. You never know how far you're going to make it."
Semifinalists
