NRF Foundation Names Scholarship Finalists

The NRF Foundation has announced the five undergraduate finalists of the Next Generation Scholarship, the organization’s premier scholarship competition. First created in 2014, the scholarship is for students of various and diverse academic backgrounds who have demonstrated leadership skills, previous retail experience and a passion for making an impact.

“The NRF Foundation is honored to recognize the top five finalists of the Next Generation scholarship,” foundation Executive Director Bill Thorne said. “These individuals have demonstrated incredible passion, ingenuity and creativity throughout the competition.”

Presented by SAS, the program will see the top recipient receiving a $25,000 tuition scholarship; the other four finalists will each receive a $10,000 tuition scholarship. The winner will be announced on stage at the NRF Foundation Honors on Jan. 15 in New York City.

The finalists are:

• Clay Lute (LIM College)
• Megan Marr (LIM College)
• Olivia Meyer (Kent State University)
• Hiral Patadia (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising)
• Lauren Schmahl (Indiana University)

The finalists were chosen from 10 semifinalists based on video interviews with NRF staff. The final round of the competition will include interviews with the foundation board of directors to determine the top recipient.

An earlier part of the competition included a summer case study created in collaboration with Nordstrom and two interviews with assigned retailers. Since 2014, more than $900,000 in funds have been awarded through the Next Generation Scholarship.

The 2023 NRF Foundation Honors will take place on Jan. 15 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square and will be co-hosted by Bloomingdale’s Chairman and CEO and NRF Foundation Board Chairman Tony Spring and Walmart U.S. President and CEO and NRF Board Chairman John Furner.

Visit nrffoundation.org/accelerate/scholarships for more information about NRF Foundation scholarships.

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