The National Retail Federation (NRF) selected Kent State University senior fashion merchandising major Brittany Casper to receive its Ray M. Greenly Scholarship that is awarded to the next generation of retail leaders. Casper, who is from Brunswick, Ohio, is among a select group of 24 students nationwide to earn this prestigious $5,000 scholarship.
She received the award at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention and Expo, also known as the Retail's BIG Show. The Retail’s BIG Show is the annual flagship industry event hosted in New York City every January by the NRF. Casper received a stipend in addition to her scholarship to attend the 2013 show that took place from Jan 13-16.
“It was such an honor to be selected to receive the Ray M. Greenly Scholarship, especially since I am only one of only 24 students in the country that will be able to attend the NRF Retail’s BIG Show,” Casper said prior to her departure. “This show is not just based around fashion retail, but includes companies like Walmart, the Container Store and Coca-Cola, as well.”
Casper jumped at the opportunity to apply when she first heard about the scholarship.
“This scholarship opportunity sounded incredible because it would give me insight into retail areas that I wouldn’t normally have contact with,” she said. “Looking at it from the overall retail perspective will help me learn how the other industries function and how to apply that to what I want to do.”
Casper has internship experiences working at Urban Zen, Agentry PR, Todd Snyder and Giorgio Armani. Amanda Monteiro, retail director for Giorgio Armani in New York City, spoke very highly of Casper in her recommendation letter for the scholarship.
“It has become rarer as each year passes to find a young talent with passion, drive and enthusiasm who is grounded in intelligence and humility, but these are the very qualities that I found in Brittany Casper when she worked with me this summer,” Monterio wrote. “She exemplifies everything that I could ever wish for or want in an employee.
“I have worked with many entry-level and intern positions before and none were as well rounded, bright, unentitled and eager as she was,” Monterio added.
Casper was particularly excited to be returning to New York City after completing four internships in the city this past spring and summer. After returning to Kent State to conclude her senior year, Casper felt more familiar with the workings of the fashion industry and wanted to continue to prepare for her career.
“I want to be a buyer for a major fashion corporation so that I can help shape the industry,” she said. Kent State is a member of the NRF Foundation university partner schools, a partnership of schools nationwide that offer future retail leaders high-quality education and access to big names in retail.
For more information about Kent State’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, visit www.kent.edu/artscollege/fashion.
For more information about the National Retail Federation’s Ray M. Greenly Scholarship, visit www.nrffoundation.com/scholarships.
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Media Contacts:
Effie Tsengas, etsengas@kent.edu, 330-672-8398
Bob Burford, rburford@kent.edu, 330-672-8516