University Challenge
The NRF Foundation University Challenge isn’t an average business case competition. This unique experience gives undergraduate students the chance to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in a real-world setting. It's more than an exercise.
A handful of teams will earn the chance to present their pitch to leaders from retail’s biggest companies, with the top team earning $30,000 in tuition scholarships divided amongst team members.
The 2025-2026 NRF Foundation University Challenge is now open with the deadline of June 23, 2025.
Class of 2025
For the 2025 NRF Foundation University Challenge, teams competed in the business case competition for a chance to earn tuition scholarships and industry recognition.
"I've gotten collaboration out of it, I've gotten leadership, real life, hands-on experience within the retail industry. I learned so much. You'll gain a lot of insight, camaraderie, and you will have fun. I highly recommend doing it."
- Grace Long, Florida State University
"This is the first time that we've been able to apply our learning to a real-world experience. It's a really great opportunity. It takes a lot of time and devotion, but it's totally worth it."
- Kiera Berry, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship Recipients
2025
Top Team
Hazel Avery, Michelle Flores, Natilee Strey, & Graeme Coté
Columbia College Chicago
Finalist Teams
Tatum Hartsfield, Madeline Blackburn, & Caroline Bowen
University of North Texas
Tina Dang, Andrea Urdaneta Ranaldi, & Tiara Quidachay
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Semifinalists
2024
Top Team
Allie Gress, Rajvi Dharamshi, Krysta Mendoza, and Aly Chew
Drexel University
Finalist Teams
Jeanine Bandyk, Isabela Vella Sarlo Sanchez, & Ana Carolina Leisner
FIDM
Sofia Kunkel, Glenda Holton, Chase Pittman, & Asiyah Ali-Sal
Florida State University
Semifinalists
Ada Hernández, Anna Gomez, Williams Jean-Charles, & Cristina Cruz
Savannah College of Art and Design
Gabriella Mak, Roxanne Sabel, Anna Banyard, & Carly Bernard
Indiana University
Rachel Sullivan, Grace Nalley, & Abigail Turner
University of North Texas
Bridget Eissler, Hannah Cunha, Ivy Galanis, & Danae Vargas
FIDM
Joie Simpson, Jada Quillen, Mary Groover, & Sophia Rizzo
Indiana University
Janae Reid, Ashley Gallegos, Cici Chen, & Mitzi Santamaria
Columbia College Chicago
Michelle Alcocer, Valeria Simons, Fiorella Sturla, & Sheikha Al-Otaibi
Babson College
2023
Top Team
Delaney Hanson, Grace Long, Alison MacCloud, & Gustavo Rubio
Florida State University
Finalist Teams
Kiera Berry, Shannon Curley, Kristin Hall, & Avery Van der Linden
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Ivonne Malagon, Alexis Norris, Juan Osorio, & Aleesa Wright
Columbia College Chicago
Semifinalists
Haven Hathaway, Julia Krasovic, Jillian Schendel, & Marissa Traver
Columbia College Chicago
Mila Hubschman, Celimari Tapia, Preyotee Raheema, & Abney Rhodes
FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Cassandra Driver, Claire Potter, & Aubrey Williams
Indiana University
Kaya Tobias, Libby Kaibas, Neely Branham, & Zoe Zvonek
Indiana University
Madison Bryant-Wagstaff, Emelia Seiferth, & Angelina Deleon
SUNY Buffalo State
Ellie Stutsman, Maddy Rosonke, & Paris Spencer
University of Missouri
Katelyn Wandel, Keir Gillis, Alexandra Henson, & Madison Dober
Western Michigan University
2022
Top Team
K-Lynn Ward, Tooba Athar & Haley Shannon
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Finalist Teams
Riley Thorpe, Rachel Baranowski, Rosa Terenzio & Ella Bondy
Columbia College Chicago
Ethan Partington, Ansley Young, Vanesa Paramo & Karolina Blachowska
Columbia College Chicago
Semifinalists
Abinaya Anand, Gilian Louie & Michelle Xu
Boston University
Aishwarya Bahl, Emma Cyphert, Jessica Falasco & Sophia Rhodes
Drexel University
Dani Dargis, Claire Wheeler, Katherine Larson & Kera Jochem
Indiana University
Sam Brook, Olivia Klee, Bianca Pugliesi & Trupti Sadigale
Indiana University
Jennifer Hamilton, Aldine Raso & Megan Schwenker
Marist College
Harper Brand, Kaitlyn Rutledge, Pierce Pittman & Melina De Groot
University of Georgia
Morgan Davis & Millie Willett
University of Texas at Austin
2021
Top Team
Ellie Smith, Etheline Ting & Emily Wilken
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Selected Retailer: Target
Second Place Team
Rachel Bennett, Madison Moats & Viren Shah
Savannah College of Art & Design - Atlanta
Selected Retailer: Target
Third Place Team
Kaci Balfany, Ysabella Gardner & Tiffany Makdissy
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Selected Retailer: Nordstrom
Semifinalists
Eryn Jones, Loren Parker Alfred Pell & Xitaly Viveros
Columbia College Chicago
Selected Retailer: Target
Kirstin Kirshbaum, Ben Sill, Amaiya Sims & Brittany Wilson
Columbia College Chicago
Selected Retailer: HSN
YeSenia Agosto-Rivera, Nicolas Sanchez & Katherine Trice
Georgia Southern University
Selected Retailer: Target
Brynna Chin-A-Young, Toni Librud, Mackenzie Miller & Brianna Shirey
Georgia Southern University
Selected Retailer: Target
Joshua Dungo, Mariana Reyes & Carolyn Treuting
Marymount University
Selected Retailer: Nordstrom
Christhine Nicole Ersando & Diana Shia
Southern New Hampshire University
Selected Retailer: Target
Kennedy DeVries, Madison Hannon, Elizabeth McShane & Helen Yuan
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Selected Retailer: Nordstrom
2020
Top Team
Cayley Creekmore, Shannon Foote, Anna Tiller & Woodley White
Georgia Southern University
Selected Retailer: Free People
KPMG Mentor: Renee Howard
Second Place Team
Rina Alshaer, Kayla Fox & Kaitlyn Sifford
University of North Texas
Selected Retailer: Anthropologie
KPMG Mentor: Elisa Holland
Third Place Team
Annie Brennan, Leah Levy, Danielle Talatian & Diana Xiong
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Selected Retailer: Tory Burch
KPMG Mentor: Kelly Combs
Semifinalists
Jack Bobiek, Madeline Franklin, Catrin Reyes & Oula Yassine
Columbia College Chicago
KPMG Mentor: Alana Widdess
Caroline Hosier, Sofia Masuda & Yoael Kebede
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
KPMG Mentor: Leila Shin
Gabriella Florio, Allison Haselton & Hunter Poorman
LIM College
KPMG Mentor: Greg Brunner
Madeline Dintino, Courtney Duggan, Christopher Mitchell & Dylan Skinner
Marist College
KPMG Mentor: Ali Wampler
Addison Holcomb, Shannon Perkins & Madison Robinson
Texas A&M University
KPMG Mentor: Laura Christal
Dylan Kravetz, Max Lerman, Annie Plunkett & Julian Zubkov
University of Wisconsin - Madison
KPMG Mentor: Karen Smith-Lewis
2019
Top Team
Angela Flegert, Alin Intravisit, Caroline McCormack & Lara Voronkov
Fashion Institute of Technology
Selected Retailer: IBM
KPMG Mentor: Renee Howard
Second Place Team
Alexia Densmore, Carlos Osuna & Kathryn Williams
Columbia College Chicago
Selected Retailer: The Home Depot
KPMG Mentor: Elisa Holland
Third Place Team
Lane Dismukes, Molly Foley, Ian Hirsch & Sarah Jane Spreng
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Selected Retailer: IBM
KPMG Mentor: Leila Shin
Semifinalists
Alexia Densmore, Carlos Osuna & Kathryn Williams
Columbia College Chicago
KPMG Mentor: Elisa Holland
Ashley Anderson, Keri Lane, Megan Leban & Elizabeth Nemecek
Georgia Southern University
KPMG Mentor: William Garman
Anne Marie Fuller, Alyssa Jennings & Elijah Manning
Georgia Southern University
KPMG Mentor: Swetha Ramjee
Jessica Flatley, Rachel Godwin & Angela Richter
Marist College
KPMG Mentor: Shetaaz Zaman
Mary Cayten Brakefield, Scout Parker & Matthew Williams
University of Tennessee
KPMG Mentor: Kerri Drozd
2018
Top Team
Ashley Cairns, Blake Fortin & Kendall McDermott
Columbia College Chicago
Selected Retailer: Staples
KPMG Mentor: Leila Shin
Second Place Team
Allison Coppedge, Sara Diaz de Villegas, Nathan Procell & Lane Hedler
Columbia College Chicago
Selected Retailer: 3M
KPMG Mentor: Leila Shin
Third Place Team
Anita Mo, Kelsey Serraneau & Walter Little
University of Pennsylvania
Selected Retailer: 3M
KPMG Mentor: Brett Benner
Semifinalists
Natasha Azurdia, Njeri Joseph, Tiffany Tran & Whitney Sutherland
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
KPMG Mentor: Elisa Holland
Alyese Shaffer, Alyssa Menendez & Jennifer Groce
Florida State University
KPMG Mentor: Ali Wampler
Jennifer Junker & Katie Dukes
Iowa State University
KPMG Mentor: Leila Shin
Allison High & Patricia Kalevas
Meredith College
KPMG Mentor: Swetha Ramjee
Danielle Weber, Elizabeth Wanzer, Megan Lund & Victoria Rustad
University of Wisconsin - Madison
KPMG Mentor: Vera Nieuwland
2017
Top Team
Keller Campbell, Jeffrey Licciardello, Alexis Montano & Kelsey Wertz
Georgia Southern University
Selected Retailer: Made in America
KPMG Mentor: Ali Wampler
Second Place Team
Sarah Muller & Hailey Turner
University of North Texas
Selected Retailer: Travel
KPMG Mentor: Will Garman
Third Place Team
Jake Fischer, Anissa Lee, Holly Li & David Pang
University of Pennsylvania
Selected Retailer: Sensory
KPMG Mentor: Priyesh Upreti
Semifinalists
Andrea Knight, Blake Fortin, Sammantha Hoefs & Victoria Shilby
Columbia College Chicago
KPMG Mentor: Dan McNevin
Alexandra Bejan, Dmitri Walker & Sung Cho
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
KPMG Mentor: Renee Howard
Amanda Tobias, Chloe White, Jilian Colin & Kathryn Wysocki
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
KPMG Mentor: Renee Howard
Katya Anleu, Leah Crooks & Mitchell Gaylord
Florida State University
KPMG Mentor: Sunder Ramakrishnan
Jessica Huang, Maggie Mendola, Riley O'Bryan & Sanjana Palepu
Indiana University
KPMG Mentor: Kamy Devaguptapu
Keilea Orr, Madison Lindley & Taylor Timmons
University of Georgia
KPMG Mentor: Joel Rampoldt
Breanna Blazei, Brian Lucksinger, Kendra Trost & Krystal Jacobs
University of Wisconsin - Madison
KPMG Mentor: Greg Brunner
2016
Top Team
Ashley Nudge, Katelyn Patrick, Nichole Fallis & McKenzie Hibler
University of North Texas
Selected Retailer: eBags
KPMG Mentor: Renee Howard
Second Place Team
Jeff Konkel, Taylor Franklin & Madeline Moore
Columbia College Chicago
Selected Retailer: Target
KPMG Mentor: Ali Wampler
Third Place Team
Terence Reading & Jill Hsieh
Florida State University
Selected Retailer: Dick's Sporting Goods
KPMG Mentor: Ray Kansal
Semifinalists
Victoria Fok, Lexandra VanCamp, David Han Kim & Nicole Servais
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Erica Dwerlkotte, Kimberly Poquiz & Allison Scheler
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
McCalley Cunningham, Maggie Washington, Tate Watson & Jacy Witt
Texas A&M University
Lara Limbaugh, Molly Dodd, Madison Lindley & Forrest Schweitzer
University of Georgia
2015
Top Team
Emily Mince & Deema Aridi
Texas Woman's University
Second Place Team
Jessica Lovell, Anakarin Petersen, Kaitlin Farless & Marcy Plefka
University of North Texas
Third Place Team
Carlin Rhea, Jacy Witt, Lora Blackstone & Diandra Esparza
Texas A&M University
Semifinalists
Karla Maldonado, Elizabeth Poteracki & Amanda Villa
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Morgan Loomis, Kelly McCamley, Dakota Smith & Monica Wilson
University of Wisconsin - Madison
2014
Top Team
Diandra Esparza, Allie Miller, Jamie Roy & Christina Tharp
Texas A&M University
Second Place Team
Sarah Bitticks, Amanda Gebran, Danny Lucero & Imani Steiner
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Third Place Team
Subrina Hossain, Khuyen Nguyen, Karen Saltzman & Andriana Solis
University of North Texas