Scholarships

Annual Scholarship Information

Each year the Center for Retailing Studies awards scholarships to retailing students based on their academic achievement, leadership skills, and demonstrated interest to pursue professional careers in retailing.  All students are encouraged to apply.  Applications are due mid-spring, and awards are presented at the marketing department’s annual awards banquet in May.  Download application.

SPRING 2011 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE

Aggies sweep Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards in 1st competition

The fashion world is often perceived as one of the elite, the beautiful, the artistic…one that is not easily penetrated. Different fashion competitions abound, with hordes of hopefuls vying for their chance to enter the industry. Getting one’s shoe in the door to compete in one of these prestigious competitions is a feat; catwalking away with multiple awards is another. Mays Business School students in Dr. Sandi Lampo’s advanced retailing class accomplished both at this year’s YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund (FSF) national scholarship competition.

Texas A&M University was accepted to participate in the competition for the first time this year. The FSF is a national nonprofit association of influential members of the fashion community including CEOs, presidents, designers, and manufacturers. Member companies include Kenneth Cole, Ralph Lauren, Macy’s and other recognizable leaders in the world of fashion. In efforts to recruit talented individuals and advance the fashion industry, the group awards 75 scholarships each year to students attending selected universities. In early 2010, the Center for Retailing Studies began the rigorous vetting process to be included in the competition.  Center director Cheryl Holland Bridges said, “Given the strength of our retailing program and the talents of our students, we knew Aggies needed to be involved.”  The nation-wide competition includes 33 schools; A&M students competed against students from the likes of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Cornell, Parsons The New School for Design, and The Wharton School.

Last fall, Dr. Sandi Lampo, Mays senior lecturer in marketing, created an advanced retailing course, part of which was to conduct a case study on private brand labels. As more information became available about the FSF, several students tailored their term projects to fit the requirements of the scholarship competition. Lampo chose the best ones to enter. “It was all individual work,” she explained. “They created a new private label brand for an existing retailer, created a merchandising plan, and a mobile commerce campaign.” Told that a maximum of five A&M students could be selected, the group held its breath and hoped for one person to receive the prestigious recognition. True to Mays Business School excellence, they were elated to find out that five A&M students were awarded scholarships. “I am so excited and so proud,” Lampo said.

FSF executive director Harry Harrison calls it “unprecedented” that a school competing for the first time should enjoy such success.   Projects were evaluated by four retailing executives and scored by strict metrics.

In addition to winning the scholarships, the recipients and Lampo will be treated to a trip to New York City in January, where they will attend the awards ceremony at the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel. “Considering it is our first year to compete, this is a an enormous accomplishment,” said Lampo. “The students will get to meet the board for the scholarship fund and interact with leaders in the retailing and fashion industry.” The ceremony is timed to overlap retailing’s major annual trade show, the National Retail Federation BIG Show.  Center director Cheryl Bridges will attend the 100th annual NRF event and also be able to cheer on the students. 

It is the first trip to NYC for two of the five students.   

Each wins a $5,000 scholarship and the chance to compete in the next phase of the competition, which will award three $25,000 scholarships.  All five Aggie winners are guaranteed internships with New York City fashion designers

The FSF scholarship winners are:

Marisol Hernandez, Marketing major, Spring 2011, Cypress, TX
Alexandra Sinatra, Marketing major, Spring 2011, Fort Worth, TX
Mary Colligan, Marketing major, Spring 2011, Arlington, TX
Kristin Shelley, Marketing major, Longview, TX
YuJin Yong, Marketing major, Spring 2011, Spring, TX 

Partner companies of the Center are invited to participate by funding scholarships.  This is a special way to directly enhance the success of students interested in retailing.  Scholarships are named for the funding partner.  Proceeds from the Center’s premier conference for industry executives, the Retailing Summit, also fund scholarships.  Companies interested in participating in funding and naming a scholarship should contact Kelli Hollinger at 979-845-0325.