Walgreens, Kroger employees awarded NRF scholarships

WASHINGTON -- Retail employees of Walgreens and Kroger are among the winners of the National Retail Federation's fourth annual Dream BIG Scholarship for 2016.

The 20 recipients of the 2016 Dream BIG Scholarships were selected out of hundreds of applicants from more than 90 retailers across the country. The winners will soon be able to pursue a master’s or undergraduate degree at the University of Phoenix through the university’s collaboration with NRF to provide each recipient with a full-tuition scholarship.

“Each one of these scholarship recipients was chosen because they believe in working hard, getting the job done and helping the retail industry grow,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Although each recipient has already made a positive impact on the industry, the best is yet to come. Furthering their education can help enhance career opportunities for them in retail and we at NRF can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”

Since the program started in 2013, 70 recipients have been awarded full-tuition scholarships with an estimated value of $3.4 million.  

“Opportunities in retail continue to grow as technology and consumer demands drive change within the industry,” University of Phoenix Executive Dean for the School of Business Ruth Veloria said. “Education can be an important piece to help pursue career and leadership opportunities in this field — especially given how diverse the career paths are. University of Phoenix is proud to team up with the National Retail Federation to develop the next generation of leaders in retail by providing an industry-aligned education designed to help them succeed.”

The Dream BIG Scholarship program is made possible through a collaboration between NRF’s nonprofit arm, the NRF Foundation, and University of Phoenix. This is the fourth year the NRF Foundation and University of Phoenix have offered the Dream BIG Scholarship for current retail employees.

To see a list of the winners, click here.