An early interest in buying and planning sparked Megan Marr's curiosity about the work behind the customer experience. This led her to LIM College, where she grew her interest and curiosity into a career. Through the NRF Foundation and the NRF Foundation Retail's Next Generation Scholarship, she gained real-world experience and meaningful industry connections that have lasted her beyond her college years.
With encouragement from her LIM College professor Marla Greene, Megan became involved in NRF Foundation programs and scholarships early in her college career. She also served as co-student ambassador for her school's NRF Student Association chapter for three years, helping promote the organization, organize activities and introduce students to opportunities in the retail industry.
As an NRF Foundation Rising Retail Star during her freshman year, Megan began attending NRF NXT (formerly the NRF Foundation Student Program) and continued to participate throughout all four years of college, gaining valuable exposure to retail leaders, industry trends and career possibilities. She was exposed to a variety of career paths and opportunities she knew she could pursue, including the NRF Foundation Retail’s Next Generation Scholarship. She first applied as a junior, earning a spot among the Top 10 finalists. With the experience and the connections, she made along the way, she applied again the following year and went on to earn the top scholarship award.
"This competition is a semester-long, retail-centric business project that prepares students for a career," said LIM College professor Marla Greene, advisor for the school's chapter of the NRF Student Association. "Megan made the top-10 in this contest last year, as a junior. Persistence pays off. Megan did it again, and this was her reward."
The scholarship further transformed classroom learning into practical experience by giving her the opportunity to develop and present a complete idea from start to finish. "That was my favorite part because you got to learn through real-world examples and gain so much exposure," Megan said.
Being named the top recipient was a moment Megan will never forget. As she waited backstage with fellow finalist and LIM College classmate Clay Lute, she was focused less on the outcome and more on the opportunity to be part of the finalist group. Although she had thought about what she might say if she won, hearing her name announced was still unexpected. "Honestly, I was just so excited to be in the finals at all," Megan said. "At the time when they called my name, it was mostly disbelief."
The experience didn't end when the competition was over.
After participating in the NRF Foundation Retail’s Next Generation Scholarship, Megan went on to serve on the NRF Foundation Board of Directors for one year and began an internship with Ross Stores.
"The people sitting next to you, the other students, are the ones who are going to be your peers in the industry," Megan said. "They are the next generation of industry leaders."
Her internship led her to a full-time role at Ross Stores as a Location Planning Analyst. In her role, she gathers data, develops recommendations, and presents ideas to leadership. The role draws on many of the same skills she developed through the NRF Foundation Retail’s Next Generation Scholarship. For Megan, the program offered exactly the kind of hands-on experience students often seek. "This is experience," she said.
Megan and her fellow finalists formed friendships that have lasted well beyond the scholarship process. The group still keeps in touch, and Megan has stayed connected with fellow LIM College alum Clay through the years. "The people sitting next to you, the other students, are the ones who are going to be your peers in the industry," Megan said. "They are the next generation of industry leaders."
In 2025, Megan returned to where it all began. She spoke at the 2025 NRF Foundation Student Program main stage to give her recent experience and words of wisdom to the students sitting where she had sat only 2 years prior.
She also gave her time to mentor students during the Executive Mentor Experience. Her commitment to the work of the NRF Foundation shines through as she continues to stay connected and involved, passing the torch onto the next generation of eager students.
She encourages students to not let uncertainty keep them from pursuing new opportunities. “You have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” she said. Whether through experience, industry connections or confidence, she believes the scholarship process offers benefits that extend far beyond the competition itself. “Always take that extra step to push yourself out of your comfort zone. It always pays huge dividends.”
