National Retail Federation Student Association of Columbia College Chicago

National Retail Federation Student Association of Columbia College Chicago The national retail federation will provide networking and job opportunities, access to scholarships

Looking for an internship or ready to start your retail career? Connect one-on-one with recruiters from some of retail’s...
09/01/2026

Looking for an internship or ready to start your retail career? Connect one-on-one with recruiters from some of retail’s biggest companies through chat, audio, or video.

📅 Monday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. CT

Meet recruiters from AEO Inc., Burlington, DICK’S, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Ross, Walmart, Belk, CVS Health, UNIQLO, Carter’s, Gap Inc., and more!
Ask questions, explore internship and entry-level opportunities, and learn what employers are looking for.

🔗 Register: app.brazenconnect.com/a/nrf/e/Bnkne

🔗 Prepare & explore opportunities: nrffoundation.org/nxt/career-fair

Get ready for career applications and interviews with virtual Recruiter Chats featuring recruiters from some of retail’s...
09/01/2026

Get ready for career applications and interviews with virtual Recruiter Chats featuring recruiters from some of retail’s largest companies!

Hear directly from recruiters about:
- Job & internship opportunities
- Application and interview tips
- Insider insights into the hiring process

Open to college students, recent graduates, and educators.

🔗 Sign up for Recruiter Chats: nrffoundation.org/retail-careers/recruiter-events

🔗 Explore companies & opportunities: nrffoundation.org/nxt/career-fair

Student Spotlight ☀️: Mihir PatelMihir is a Senior Product Development Student at Columbia College Chicago. This year, h...
08/17/2026

Student Spotlight ☀️: Mihir Patel

Mihir is a Senior Product Development Student at Columbia College Chicago. This year, he and his team placed 3rd in the NRF Foundation University Challenge.

Here, he shares valuable advice for teams preparing for the 2027 University Challenge:
“I think it’s very meaningful to really understand who you’re working with and what they are passionate about. Not only does it help the group understand everyone’s strengths, but it really helps solidify and bond the chemistry the group has together.”

Mihir shares how his perspective on the retail industry has shifted, encouraging him to take on a business minor after the case competition and student program.
After graduation, Mihir is interested in continuing his career at Nordstrom in a managerial role. Mihir has expressed interest in learning more about the field and working under designers to gain insights before starting his own brand.

The University Challenge team case competition is officially OPEN for applications! 🚀This unique experience allows unde...
02/27/2026

The University Challenge team case competition is officially OPEN for applications! 🚀

This unique experience allows undergraduate students to apply classroom learning to a real-world retail challenge. In partnership with Wayfair, teams will develop an innovative strategic solution, with finalists advancing to present to top retail executives. The winning team will earn $30,000 in tuition scholarships and a chance to participate in the NRF Foundation’s Student Program 2027 in NYC.

Last year, Columbia’s own Ashley Corona, Mihir Patel, and Yasmine Karkouch were named 2026 University Challenge Finalists, earning a $20,000 tuition award for their team.

Interested in joining the fun? Send an email over to Columbia’s Director of Scholarship Initiatives, Dana Connell
✉️ [email protected]

Info Session 1- REGISTER HERE:
📆 Friday, March 6, 11:00 AM CT
🔗 https://nrf.zoom.us/meeting/register/eKV7v5pjT8GiF4wfcK1wrw #/registration

Info Session 2- REGISTER HERE:
📆 Monday, April 27, 11:00 AM CT
🔗 https://nrf.zoom.us/meeting/register/PMQXJwhOTUyyEp0mo2UMew #/registration

Learn more about the 2026 NRF University Challenge Finalists HERE:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Of32s85Po&t=1s

For more information, check out the NRF Website.
🔗 https://nrffoundation.org/campus/scholarships/university-challenge

Or you can shoot us a DM here :)

The NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship is officially OPEN 🚀This scholarship recognizes students who are ready to...
02/27/2026

The NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship is officially OPEN 🚀

This scholarship recognizes students who are ready to lead, innovate, and make a real impact in the retail industry. Beyond funding, it’s an opportunity to sharpen your business thinking, expand your network, and step confidently into the next phase of your career. This year, Columbia College’s Shamya Banks was awarded 15K as an NRF Foundation Next Gen runner-up and finalist.

Phase 1 applications are due May 26, 2026

Check out the NRF Foundation’s upcoming info session to learn more!

📅 Wednesday, March 11, 3:00-4:00 PM CT

Next Generation Scholarship Info Session- REGISTER HERE:
🔗 https://nrf.zoom.us/meeting/register/Zng91Ct-RzmGNnNbI8tpag #/registration

Learn more about the 2026 NRF Foundation Next Generation Finalists HERE:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sNaua-U5UU

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

For more information, check out the NRF Website.
🔗 https://nrffoundation.org/campus/scholarships/next-generation

Reach out to Columbia’s Director of Scholarship Initiatives- Dana Connell
✉️ [email protected]

Or you can shoot us a DM here :)

Hi all! My name is Yasmine Karkouch, and I’ll be your new Columbia College Chicago NRF Foundation Student Ambassador for...
02/23/2026

Hi all! My name is Yasmine Karkouch, and I’ll be your new Columbia College Chicago NRF Foundation Student Ambassador for the next year. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to attend the student program in NYC for the last 2 years. I am excited to share my experience and all the amazing upcoming internships and scholarships the foundation has to offer!

A little about me:
🧵 Junior Fashion Design Major
🌊 Beach lover and book enjoyer
♍️ Virgo Sun
🎶 Current song on repeat: “everything about her” Amie Blu

DMs are open for any questions. Let’s connect!

Meet Shamya Banks, a Fashion Studies major and current 2026 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship Finalist! Hear ab...
11/16/2025

Meet Shamya Banks, a Fashion Studies major and current 2026 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship Finalist! Hear about her incredible experience with the NRF below!

She reflected on her time working on the Next Gen Scholarship, saying, "The biggest challenge for me was juggling this competition in tandem with my full-time internship at Crate & Barrel. A highlight of it is that since we were looking to improve their dorm assortment, there was a lot of creative freedom that I could take in aligning with the brand more authentically."

Shamya also recommends the NRF Foundation Student Program, saying, "I recommend the student program for students who want to understand how to apply what we’re learning in classes into their professional goals and increase their visibility. At the program, you are able to get facetime with industry leaders, mentors, and brand recruiters in really helpful ways. If you’ve been putting in the work but have a hard time breaking through the noise, the student program is a great place to go to standout."

Reflecting on her time at CCC and looking forward into the future, Shamya says, "I love being a Fashion Peer Tutor on campus. This role allows me to support so many types of students in understanding their coursework and fostering a deeper appreciation for the subject and their own creativity. I’m looking forward to using everything that I’ve learned to pour into other students and help them achieve their goals."

Congratulations on all of your incredible achievements, Shamya! We will be cheering you on in NYC!

Travel scholarships for the 2026 NRF Foundation Student Program are open now! Visit the link below or in our stories to ...
09/04/2025

Travel scholarships for the 2026 NRF Foundation Student Program are open now! Visit the link below or in our stories to apply!

nrffoundation.org/scholarships

Meet Yasmine Karkouch, a fashion merchandising major and active participant in the NRF Foundation University Challenge! ...
04/25/2025

Meet Yasmine Karkouch, a fashion merchandising major and active participant in the NRF Foundation University Challenge! Hear about her experience with the NRF below!

She reflected on her time on the University Challenge, saying, "The biggest highlight was my team. I feel so lucky to have worked with such enthusiastic, brilliant, hardworking teammates. They became a support system, and being surrounded by people so dedicated to the work was the push to keep going!"

She also highly recommends that students take advantage of the NRF Foundation Student Program in NYC! "It truly widens your perspective. At first, being surrounded by so many ambitious and hardworking students can be a little daunting, but it's also incredibly motivating. You become aware of just how expansive the world of retail is and how many opportunities are out there."

Reflecting on the future, Yasmine said, "Looking ahead—whether it's at Columbia or throughout my career—I'm just excited to keep learning and growing. Whether the path moves horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or in the smallest steps, I want to stay open, curious, and committed to evolving."

Interested in all things retail? Come to our information & workshop session to learn more about this awesome scholarship...
04/14/2025

Interested in all things retail? Come to our information & workshop session to learn more about this awesome scholarship opportunity! The meeting is on April 15th from 3-3:30pm! Check this week's The Thread or DM for the zoom link!
P.S. If you can't make the meeting, it will be recorded and available to view later this week! See you there! 😄

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600 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL
60605

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