NRF Foundation Awards $178,000 in Scholarships to Next Generation of Retail Leaders
For Immediate Release
Shari Brown or Kathy Grannis (855) NRF-PRESS
Browns@nrf.com
www.nrffoundation.com/scholarships
Learn more about the Fall 2012 Ray M. Greenly Scholarship recipients.
NRF Foundation Awards $178,000 in Scholarships to Next Generation of Retail Leaders
-24 Students Recipients of Ray M. Greenly Scholarship-
Washington, December 3, 2012 – Christmas came early for 24 college students when they learned they were recipients of a $5,000 scholarship through the NRF Foundation’s Ray M. Greenly Scholarship fund. Each student, nominated by educators at their schools based on their high scholastic achievements and passion for retail, will receive a $5,000 scholarship to cover educational costs and a stipend to attend Retail’s BIG Show in January. As a part of its commitment to foster the next generation of retail leaders, the NRF Foundation is on track to award more than $350,000 in scholarships this school year through its University Partner Program.
“I’m incredibly passionate about the importance of recruiting and retaining the best people and these scholarships demonstrate the National Retail Federation’s commitment to the future of retail talent and leadership,” said Kip Tindell, Chairman and CEO of The Container Store and Chairman of the NRF Foundation Board of Directors. “I can’t imagine another industry that offers the growth and innovation opportunities that retail does and I’m certain that these students have bright and fulfilling careers ahead of them. We look forward to seeing them thrive and make a difference in the lives of the millions connected to our industry.”
The below students have been named recipients of the Fall 2012 Ray M. Greenly Scholarship. To learn more about each Ray M. Greenly scholarship winner, visit their individual profiles by clicking the links.
| Name | Hometown | School |
| Laura Bianchi | Cinnaminson, NJ | Drexel University |
| Esther Wu | San Jose, CA | FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising |
| Elizabeth Kryszak | Eden, NY | Fashion Institute of Technology |
| Rinsha Prophete | St. Petersberg, FL | Florida State University |
| Kelly Sexton | Toccoa, GA | Georgia Southern University |
| Kelsey Pepmeier | Vincennes, IN | Indiana University |
| Brittany Casper | Brunswick, OH | Kent State University |
| Maryah Duplissie | Monmouth, ME | Lasell College |
| Shannon Oriole | Pelham, NH | LIM College |
| Daniel Hughes | Manassas, VA | Longwood University |
| Kate Oronin | Dayton, OH | Ohio University |
| Amanda Lane | Dubuque, IA | Pennsylvania State University |
| Alyssa Tomasello | Morgan Hill, CA | Santa Clara University |
| Kelsey Maharrey | Tupelo, MS | Savannah College of Art and Design |
| Lauren Ray | Austin, TX | Texas A&M University |
| Talia Watts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | The University of Arizona |
| Katie Streepey | Dallas, TX | University of Arkansas |
| David Magnotta | San Antonio, TX | University of Florida |
| Michele Crow | Lee’s Summit, MI | University of North Texas |
| June Luo | Germantown, WI | University of Pennsylvania |
| Sherri Martin | Mission Viejo, CA | University of Phoenix |
| Susan Fuller | Greenville, SC | University of South Carolina |
| Jamie Madere | Kingston Springs, TN | University of Tennessee-Knoxville |
| Melissa LaBorde | Waukesha, WI | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Scholarship recipients, each of whom is a member of the NRF Student Association, will travel to New York and will be recognized at Retail’s BIG Show in January. A special student program during the Convention, made possible by contributions from The Container Store, Macy’s, Saks and Walmart, will incorporate unique networking sessions with retail recruiters and opportunities for students to meet executives from BJ’s Wholesale Club, HSN, Rent the Runway, and Tractor Supply Co.
The Ray M. Greenly Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of a former Shop.org vice president who lost his battle with cancer in the fall of 2005. His generous and kind spirit inspired NRF to establish a scholarship that provides financial support to students pursuing a career in retail in areas including marketing, operations, merchandising, logistics, IT, and analytics.
The scholarship is partially funded by a portion of the proceeds from CyberMonday.com, a website launched in 2006 to provide retailers with the opportunity to highlight their online promotions on Cyber Monday and throughout the year.
The NRF Foundation promotes retailing as an attractive career path while developing and cultivating the next generation of retail leaders through partnerships with universities, professional certification programs, and workforce training. Through its research and education initiatives, the NRF Foundation provides data and information about the importance of retail to the economy. It also oversees the Ray M. Greenly scholarship fund, which provides scholarships to deserving college students nationwide. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. www.nrffoundation.com.
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