2018-19

Ten Retail Managenemt Institute (RMI) students recieved various scholarships to attend the National Retail Federation's Annual Conference in New York City, along with Cynthia Gamage, Associate Director, Retail Management Institute, and Gail Kirby, Marketing Professor.  Cynthia Gamage said: "Taking students to New York to the National Retail Federation "Big Show" conference has been a terrific trip for our students.  Highlight always revolve around company visits with our successful alumni - Mark Brashear '83, Chairman and CEO from John Varvatos and many more.   We are forever thankful to the Curran family for providing scholarships for these important trips and for the opportunities through the NRF Student Program." 

One of the students, Francesca Tiballi, a Marketing senior, also offered her reflections on the conferenece. "This year, I received the Jill Curran Scholarship to attend the National Retail Federation’s Annual Conference in New York City with the Retail Management Institute. I was joined by 9 other SCU students who received scholarships such as the NRF Ambassador, NRF Rising Star, NRF Next Generation Scholar, YMA Fashion Fund Scholar, and 5 other Jill Curran scholars. As a senior, attending the conference and hearing talks from industry professionals whose companies I had studied in my classes throughout the Retail Studies program was incredible. During our time in New York, we also had the chance to attend company visits at Phillips-Van Heusen, JCDecaux, and John Varvatos. Learning about how these major retailers and advertisers operate and getting to see their offices was a really cool experience that I would have never had otherwise. We also had the chance to meet with SCU RMI alumni in New York and got to learn more about their career paths from the Bay to the Big Apple. Receiving the Jill Curran Scholarship and being able to attend the NRF conference has been one of the best experiences out of my time here at Santa Clara".