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SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 12, 2020, — Two undergraduate students from the Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University were selected by the National Retail Federation Foundation to advance to the final round of the 2021 Next Generation Scholarship, a pinnacle achievement for students interested in pursuing careers in retail.

The students were among only five students from over 100 schools across the country selected for this honor, a testament to Leavey School of Business’s commitment to this high-growth industry sector.

“At the Retail Management Institute, our students become deeply conversant in concepts like  technology-driven retail innovation, digital merchandising, and data science, which are in high demand among retail industry leaders in these extremely competitive times, ” states Kirthi Kalyanam, L.J. Skaggs Distinguished Professor and Executive Director, Retail Management Institute. “I am delighted that our RMI students are recognized for the value they bring to future employers, and I have no doubt they will become leaders in this exciting and fast-moving sector of the economy.”

The NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship features a top award of $25,000 and a $10,000 award for each of the four finalists.  Judges from PetSmart and a dozen other retail companies evaluated business-improvement case studies completed by contestants to determine the top 10 contenders. These 10 students participated in a virtual interview process with National Retail Federation staff to select the five finalists. The top recipient will be determined after a final round of interviews with the NRF Foundation board of directors, chaired by Macy’s Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Gennette, along with executives from some of the industry’s biggest brands.  

The top two Santa Clara University Next Generation scholars are Madeline Wong ‘21 and Eugene Choi ‘21 both majoring in business marketing in the Leavey School of Business, with concentrations in retail studies and studio arts, respectively.

“Being a part of Santa Clara University’s Retail Management Institute (RMI) changed my life and fostered my love of retail,” said Choi. “Through the many opportunities to network like the career fairs, I was able to get firsthand experience including an internship with Target, which taught me what it takes to be a leader in retailing. This experience is truly once in a lifetime and will help me on my path to success after SCU.”

Added Wong, “ I chose to come to Santa Clara University because of the Retail Management Institute since I have always been passionate about retail - not just fashion but everything about retailing.  My experience at NRF and RMI has opened doors that I didn’t think would ever be possible.”

About NRF

The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. NRFFoundation.org 

About Santa Clara University

Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley—the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University’s stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asís. SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1% of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. 

About Leavey School of Business

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, one of the most dynamic business environments in the world, the Leavey School of Business combines academic excellence in the 450-year Jesuit tradition, with an energetic, innovative spirit that typifies the region. Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business offers one of the nation’s best graduate business programs ranked No. 11 Executive MBA by U.S News & World Report, No. 25 ranked Evening MBA by U.S News & World Report and No. 25 ranked Online MBA by The Princeton Review. For more information, visit www.scu.edu/business.

Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu