Twenty-five semifinalists in the 2022 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship will spend the summer completing a case study created in collaboration with Meijer. This case study provides valuable real-world experience and helps develop future retail leaders.
“Despite continued challenges amid distance learning, students put together impressive applications that showcased their knowledge of retail and passion for the industry,” NRF Foundation Executive Director Bill Thorne says. “We are looking forward to seeing how they apply their experience working in retail, along with what they’ve learned in their coursework, in the next part of the competition for our most prestigious student award.”
The 25 semifinalists are:
- Robert Davison Long (Columbia College Chicago)
- Sabrina Leibowitz (Drexel University)
- Grace Lowhorn (Indiana University)
- Sarah May (Indiana University)
- Taylor McTaggart (Indiana University)
- Tyler Parod (Indiana University)
- Karina Fernandes (Lasell University)
- Emily Coumoutseas (LIM College)
- Mia Cordio (LIM College)
- Megan Marr (LIM College)
- Erika Parker (LIM College)
- Marcel Smith (LIM College)
- Lauren Gerstner (LIM College)
- Rebecca Kuzmicz (Marist College)
- Catherine Gambeski (Marist College)
- Alexandra Owings (Mississippi State University)
- Chloe Ingram (Mississippi State University)
- Brooke Williams (Ohio State University)
- Jessica Bradford (Purdue University)
- Luke Maffia (Rutgers University)
- Peyton Darrow (Santa Clara University)
- Nichole Martin (Texas A&M University)
- Abigail Swain (University of Delaware)
- Sarah Carlson (University of Delaware
- Olivia Rein (University of Minnesota - Twin Cities)
The next few weeks of the competition feature a rigorous case study that will challenge the students to build a comprehensive plan for a new foods program as part of the Meijer Own Brand merchandising initiatives. The students will research and develop a go-to-market strategy that will allow Meijer to effectively launch its new concept.
The case studies will be judged by a panel of retail executives, and the top recipient will be announced on stage at the NRF Foundation Honors on Jan. 16.
Since its launch, nearly $900,000 in funds have been awarded through the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship.
The NRF Foundation also offers scholarships of up to $5,000 in our team business case competition. Learn more about the requirements and how to form your team for the 2022 NRF Foundation Student Challenge here.