NRF awards higher study scholarship to 20 retail workers

Dream BIG will award 20 full-tuition scholarships for any University of Phoenix bachelor’s or master’s degree program applicable to retail workers who want to further their professional goals through education. The flexibility of the program will allow recipients to continue to work and live at home while pursuing a degree.

In 2013, hundreds of retail workers from more than 80 companies across the United States applied for the Dream BIG Scholarship, and 10 scholarships were awarded. The stories shared by the Dream BIG 2013 recipients can be seen here: 2013 Dream BIG recipients. Given the success of program in 2013, University of Phoenix and NRF decided to double the number of scholarships available for 2014.

"Retail offers richly rewarding and diverse career opportunities to millions of hard-working Americans, and NRF is committed to fostering career growth for those who want to achieve great things in our industry,” said NRF Foundation Executive Director Ellen Davis. “The stories shared by the 2013 Dream BIG recipients were extremely inspirational, and exemplify the ambition and passion for retail that exists among many industry workers. We’re delighted to double the number of full-tuition scholarships being provided this year.” 

“Connecting the skills and expertise of working learners with a degree program that will take their personal and professional goals to the next level is what we do,” said Barry Feierstein, executive vice president at University of Phoenix. “The Dream BIG Scholarship represents our commitment to align higher education with the needs of both our students and their employers.”

Daniel White, a 2013 Dream BIG recipient and employee at The Container Store, is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. “I am passionate about retail and this program with University of Phoenix has given me a firmer ground to stand on when looking at not just the company I work for but the retail industry as a whole,” he said. “Educated leaders will be the key driver in moving the retail industry forward.”

National Retail Federation