Stein Mart retail staff bag higher learning at Phoenix

“Our University of Phoenix alliance helps us to develop internal talent, resulting in enhanced associate engagement and alignment with more broadly developed business and management competencies,” said Hunt Hawkins, executive vice president at Stein Mart.

"We're committed to our students' desires to see degree programs align with career prospects in the retail industry," said Barry Feierstein, chief business operating officer of University of Phoenix. "We offer a wide range of programs that offer the opportunity to acquire skills aligned with the needs of important employers, like Stein Mart."

The 2013 University of Phoenix/Stein Mart Scholarship recipients include:

Patricia Tran, Chino Hills, Calif., enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program in business with a concentration in management.

Julie Cascarelli, Poway, Calif., enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program in business with a concentration in management.

"Our employees' success in higher education is directly tied to our company's mission. We see this program's success as an important part of our commitment to a more educated workforce, and expect great things from Patricia, Julie and future scholarship recipients," said Greg Lohman, vice president of human resources at Stein Mart.

In addition to the scholarship with Stein Mart, University of Phoenix also works with the National Retail Federation (NRF) to help develop talent through education, scholarships and foster career growth among those who work in retail. Through this effort, University of Phoenix and NRF have awarded 10 full-tuition “Dream BIG” scholarships to people working in retail, so they can advance their retail careers through education.

Stein Mart