ARLINGTON — The NRF Foundation has announced the top five finalists for its 2026 Next Generation Scholarship, the organization’s flagship award recognizing exceptional undergraduate students pursuing careers in retail.
Launched in 2014, the scholarship honors students from diverse academic backgrounds who have demonstrated leadership, retail experience, and a strong commitment to advancing the industry. To date, more than $800,000 has been awarded through the program.
“The NRF Foundation is proud to recognize this year’s accomplished Next Generation scholarship finalists,” said NRF Foundation Executive Director Adam Lukoskie. “Throughout each stage of the competition, this group of rising leaders has demonstrated an understanding of the retail landscape and bold, forward-thinking visions for the future of the industry. We are honored to support these finalists as they pursue the next steps in their careers.”
2026 Finalists
- Shayma Banks, Columbia College Chicago
- Madison-Jade Bishop, Drexel University
- Jacquelyn Dufner, University of Minnesota
- Emme Serafino, Drexel University
- Sarah Starko, Babson College
The competition featured a summer case study developed with Crate & Barrel, along with interviews designed to evaluate each student’s passion for retail and industry knowledge. The finalists were chosen from a pool of 10 semifinalists after video interviews with NRF staff.
In the final round, students will take part in in-person interviews with the NRF Foundation Board of Directors. The top winner will earn a $25,000 tuition scholarship, while each of the four other finalists will receive $10,000. The winner will be announced during the NRF Foundation Honors event on January 11, 2026, in New York City.
Each year, the NRF Foundation awards over $1 million in scholarships, connecting more than 80,000 learners and 3,700 partners to opportunities in the retail industry. More than 300 retailers and industry partners support its mission to build a strong, skilled talent pipeline for the future of retail.
