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The NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship is the pinnacle achievement for students interested in pursuing careers in retail. This opportunity was created for students of various academic backgrounds who have demonstrated leadership skills, previous retail experience and a passion for making an impact.

This scholarship develops skills in retailing, business and critical thinking, and prepares and encourages students to launch their career in retail and earn recognition among the next generation of leaders in the industry. Since its launch, more than $800,000 in funds have been awarded through the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship.

The 2025-26 Next Generation Scholarship application is now open with a deadline of May 28.

View Application
NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalists eagerly await the announcement of the winner while on stage at NRF Foundation Student Program.

Class of 2025

Ambitious students competed to represent the next generation of retail leaders.

The top recipient for the NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship received a $25,000 scholarship; four finalists each received $10,000 scholarships.

View this year's honorees
 

"NRF Foundation really gives us a great platform to apply our knowledge outside of traditional classes and internships."

2025 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalist Nevaeh Hearn of Drexel University.

"With the help of the NRF Foundation I'm able to have those connections with professionals — whether I want to go to supply-chain, finance, marketing, or anything else."

— 2025 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalist Julia Yusupov, from Boston University.

NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship 2025 Top 5

The highest honor that the NRF Foundation can bestow upon a student features a top award of $25,000 and recognition as an emerging leader in retail.

 

2025

Top Recipient

Miri Chan
Boston University

Miri Chan

Finalists

Nevaeh Hearn
Drexel University

Alicia Langlais
University of North Texas

Gabbi Mak
Indiana University

Julia Yusupov
Boston University

Semifinalists

Shamya Banks
Columbia College Chicago

Sarah Hayden
Kent State University

Ryan Morrow
University of Iowa

Juliana Skopp-Cardillo
Montclair State University

Hope Underwood
University of Florida

Michelle Alcocer
Babson College

Anna Banyard
Indiana University

Ryan Bland
University of Notre Dame

Brett Doyon
University of Texas at Austin

Skyler Ebersole
Marist College

Megan Lee
Indiana University

Tiana Mai
FIDM

Lauren Molnar
LIM College

Bella Nichols
Mississippi State University

Jessica Okafor
Kennesaw State University

Erica Soekardono
Arizona State University

Spencer Villinski
Lasell University

Camber Walvoort
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Allison Willner
University of Notre Dame

Joanne Yeung
FIDM


2024

Top Recipient

Kev Addison
Indiana University

Kev Addison

Finalists

Cali Burns
University of Missouri

Fatmata Camara
LIM College

Rosinella D'Ostilio
University of Florida

Michelle Lee
University of Notre Dame

Semifinalists

Miri Chan
Boston University

Allie Gress
Drexel University

Megan Lee
Indiana University

Shanelle Mitchell
Drexel University

Aleish Ramirez
Lim College

Darby Klemz
University Of South Carolina

Kaitlyn Robinson
Indiana University

Kate Cashen
Colorado State University Fort Collins

Elizabeth Allan
Marist College

Amaryllis Duklee
The University of Texas at Austin

Michelle Hoang
University of Houston

Marco Martinez
Indiana University

Hope Underwood
University of Florida

Lily Champine
Michigan State University

Cherokee Zarate
University of Houston

Yvonne Matias
Texas Tech University

Lorenzo Vasquez
University of Florida

Anna Cox
University of Georgia

Julia Mcnicol
Lasell University

Sky Starling
University of Georgia


2023

Top Recipient

Megan Marr
Lim College

Megan Marr.

Finalists

Clay Lute
LIM College

Olivia Meyer
Kent State University

Hiral Patadia
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Lauren Schmahl
Indiana University

Semifinalists

Aishwarya Bahl
Drexel University

Sophia Boyer
University of Georgia

Cameron Christensen
Indiana University

Maggie Cooley
Texas A&M University

Aurion Cooper
Texas State University

Noelle Engrassia
Lasell University

Kensley Hoover
University of Arizona

Anais Humes
Florida State University

Elyssa Jones
Ohio State University

Catherine King
Lasell University

Maureen Kirk
Ball State University

Darby Klemz
University of South Carolina

Megan Lenzi
Iowa State University

Ivonne Malagon
Columbia College Chicago

Kinsey Pastore
Auburn University

Miranda Prater
Columbia College Chicago

Ethan Roos
Indiana University

Elizabeth Slywka
Ohio State University

Emma Stambaugh
University of Texas at Austin

Carly Uhlig
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities


2022

Top Recipient

Robert Davison Long
Columbia College Chicago

Robert Davison Long

Finalists

Sabrina Leibowitz
Drexel University

Sarah May
Indiana University

Marcel Smith
LIM College

Brooke Williams
Ohio State University

Semifinalists

Jessica Bradford
Purdue University

Sarah Carlson
University of Delaware

Emily Coumoutseas
LIM College

Karina Fernandes
Lasell University

Catherine Gambeski
Marist College

Chloe Ingram
Mississippi State University

Rebecca Kuzmicz
Marist College

Grace Lowhorn
Indiana University

Luke Maffia
Rutgers University

Nichole Martin
Texas A&M University

Taylor McTaggart
Indiana University

Alexandra Owings
Mississippi State University

Tyler Parod
Indiana University

Olivia Rein
University of Minnesota

Abigail Swain
University of Delaware


2021

Top Recipient

Amaiya Sims
Columbia College Chicago

Amaiya Sims

Finalists

Rachel Bennett
Savannah College of Art and Design

Eugene Choi
Santa Clara University

Sophia Van Slyke
Butler University

Madeline Wong
Santa Clara University

Semifinalists

Camille Brown
University of Tennessee

Laura Copen
Mississippi State University

Jordan Davis
University of South Carolina

Ansley Deaton
Belmont University

Catherine Dinh
Santa Clara University

Taylor Ford
University of Georgia

Valerie Gilbert
Kent State University

Cody Hutchison
University of Arizona

Sid Kumar
Indiana University

Dayjah Lee
Indiana University

Jenna Mack
Savannah College of Art & Design - Savannah

Seanna Naylon
High Point University

Matthew Russell
Auburn University

Erin Salleee
LIM College

Kaitlyn Sifford
University of North Texas

Olivia Smith
Auburn University

Tatum Snelling
Auburn University

Ines Soares
Marist College

Parker Sylvester
University of Georgia

Qiu Wu
University of Minnesota


2020

Top Recipient

LeAnn Percivill
Texas A&M University

Leann Percivill

Finalists

Maria Hartke
University of Arizona

Lisa Lam
University of Florida

Annie Hope Mazzola
Indiana University

Madeline Medby
LIM College

Semifinalists

Abigail Detrick
Lasell College

Barent Getzoff
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jordan Kwei Ming Hui
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM)

Michelle Kerstein
North Carolina State University

Taylor Key
SCAD Atlanta

Faith Knox
Texas A&M University

Courtney Koop
University of Georgia

Elizabeth Mattingly
University of Georgia

Tyler Pharr
Meredith College

Elizabeth Soto
Indiana University

Hailey Tirado
Fashion Institute of Technology

Camila Vincent de Urquiza
University of Florida

Lara Voronkov Fredericks
Fashion Institute of Technology

Jordan Whiteman
LIM College

Kathryn Williams
Columbia College Chicago


2019

Top Recipient

Kelsey White
LIM College

Kelsey White

Finalists

Maryum Abdul-Hakeem
Savannah College of Art & Design - Atlanta

Manu Garikipati
Texas A&M University

Aine Mattera
Indiana University

Lauryn-Ashley Solomon
Kent State University

Semifinalists

Collier Barksdale
University of Georgia

Raquel Benjamin
Savannah College of Art & Design - Savannah

Mary Cayten Brakefield
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Abigail Dolbeer
Indiana University

Rachel Duerksen
University of Minnesota

Mariel Emery
Florida State University

Tori Hunger
University of Iowa

Marie Johnson
Meredith College

Faith Knox
Texas A&M University

Allison Lausch
University of South Carolina

Olivia Mannion
Santa Clara University

Rebecca Olsen
East Carolina University

Grant Plotkin
Parsons School of Design

Charlotte Sandness
LIM College

Elizabeth Smith
Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandising

Kimberly Spradley
Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandising

Tinka Weener
Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandising

Jorja West
Texas Woman's University


2018

Top Recipient

Courtney Nash
University of Arizona

Courtney Nash

Finalists

Brian Lucksinger
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Marlowe Camblin
Santa Clara University

Brittany Rhoa
Kent State University

Kelly Skoglund
University of Georgia

Semifinalists

Natalie Alonzo
Pennsylvania State University

Shane Baglione
University of Florida

Jessa Chargois
Cornell University

Lea Chen
University of Pennsylvania

Rachelle Duperoux
Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandising

Tyshaia Earnest
Kent State University

Madeline Harpham
University of Georgia

Isabel Jimenez
Savannah College of Art and Design

Paige Lindsey
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Amaya Linsey
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Katarina Mejean
University of Delaware

Ariel Norris
Butler University

Carlo Pardo
Savannah College of Art and Design

Sadie Lee Pierce
Mississippi State University

Emylee Smith
Ohio University

Mollina So
Kent State University

Kathryn Steib
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Nick Trifelos
Butler University

Reanne Wang
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Hannah Witteried
Butler University


2017

Top Recipient

Kaley Suero
University of Pennsylvania

Finalists

Makaela Hill
Indiana University

Jill Davis
University of Georgia

Margaret Kwon
The New School - Parsons School of Design

Danielle Mennella
LIM College

Semifinalists

Crystal Paris
Savannah College of Art and Design - Atlanta

Sarah Botscheller
Kent State University

Elizabeth Dumont
Auburn University

Ariana Frankel
Santa Clara University

Leah Jenkins
University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Savannah Kleiner
Butler University

Lisa Liu
University of Pennsylvania

Gabrielle Martinez
Mississippi State University

Laura Martinez
University of Alabama

Brenna McKeown
University of Florida

Alyssa McKinzie
Texas A&M University

Megan Miller
Lasell College

Traum-Anh Nguyen
Texas State University - San Marcos

Hannah Patrick
Drexel University

Samantha Pineda
University of Georgia

Rita Roloff
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Brenna Schlauderaff
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Victoria Shibly
Columbia College Chicago

Christian Sopoco
Texas Women's University

Matthew Talbot
East Carolina University


2016

Top Recipient

Emma Jumper
Mississippi State University

Emma Jumper

Finalists

Ashley Biscan
University of Georgia

Grace Dusek
Texas A&M University

Macaira O'Connell
Indiana University

Rachel Weinstein
The University of Arizona


2015

Top Recipient

Sarah Kendzior
University of Minnesota

Sarah Kendzior

Finalists

Biancha Felix

LIM College

Courtney Hunter
Philadelphia University

Garrett Ledbetter
Indiana University

Ashley Nudge
University of North Texas

Semifinalists

Deema Aridi
Texas Woman's University

Evelin Castillo Chang
Drexel University

Haelee Catchpole
University of North Carolina - Greensboro

Kayla Cline
University of Houston

Christen Finkbeiner
University of Florida

Kasia Gibbs
Kent State University

Jenna Gorman
Florida State University

Samantha Hale
Auburn University

Michelle Herlihy
Ohio University

Morgan Jones
Johnson & Wales University - Providence

Samantha Lockhart
Lasell College

Dylan Mack
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Karla Maldonado
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Lucille Reynolds
University of Georgia

Kaila Richardson
Santa Clara University

Katie Thornton
Mississippi State University

Cody Villanueva
The University of Arizona

Anna Watson
Georgia Southern University

Courtney Whitaker
University of South Carolina


2014

Top Recipient

Carlie Jensen
Indiana University

Carlie Jensen

Finalists

Elizabeth Heibertshausen
Kent State University

Allie Miller
Texas A&M University

Elizabeth Poteracki
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Melanie Weber
The University of Arizona

Semifinalists

Abena Arkorful
Longwood University

Katherine Breuning
Florida State University

Kelley Cipriani
University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Ana Maria Cruz Ospina
Pennsylvania State University

Alexa Escobar
Fashion Institute of Technology

Amanda Garza
University of Houston

Qili 'Lily' Jin
University of Arkansas

Hannah Klein
Ohio University

Kaitlyn Leonard
LIM College

Destini Long
University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Morgan March
East Carolina University

Antoinette Marrero
Santa Clara University

Maxwell Olsen
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Michelle Ouellette
Lasell College

Kelly Sartorius
University of South Carolina

Adriana Solis
University of North Texas

Wendy Warbington
Georgia Southern University

Jacob Wilson
University of Phoenix