‘Dream Big’ scholarships help retailer workers earn degrees

The National Retail Federation together with University of Phoenix, have partnered to give 10 individuals full-tuition scholarships to fulfill their college degrees.

The Dream BIG scholarship program was launched in January and was open to any individual working part-time or full-time for a retail company. Hundreds of people from more than 80 companies across the country applied, and in June a panel of top retail executives selected the 10 deserving recipients. 

The full-tuition scholarships will allow retail associates to pursue a wide-array of career paths available in the retail industry, with the added flexibility to continue to work and live at home while advancing their education.


The 2013 recipients of the Dream BIG scholarships are:

• Christine Liberto, pharmacist, Wal-Mart, New Milford, Conn., (MBA)
• Stephanie Brovender, manager, talent resources, ANN Inc., New York, (Bachelor’s degree)
• Erica Gordon-Roberts, human resources coordinator, Kroger, Lithonia, Ga. (MBA)

• Chaz Grunder, assistant manager, Stater Bros., Corona, Calif., (Bachelor’s degree)

• Erika Harrel, personnel clerk, Stater Bros., Riverside, Calif., (MBA)

• Dylan Lauzon, senior risk analyst, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Hermosa Beach, Calif., (MBA)

• Adam Naumann, district supervisor and store manager, Wildcat Wearhouse, Louisville, Ky., (MBA)

• Ryan Sexauer, district sales leader, Sleep Train, Santa Cruz, Calif., (Bachelor’s degree)

• Daniel White, store manager visual sales, The Container Store, Columbus, Ohio, (MBA)
• Jonathon Wolheim, manager, Apple, Temecula, Calif., (Bachelor’s degree)

"We are honored to recognize the passion and ambition of our Dream BIG scholarship recipients," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. "Retail offers richly rewarding and diverse career opportunities to hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americans. The stories these individuals shared through their applications show that retail is more than just a job – it is a fulfilling, challenging career path for those who work hard and want to achieve great things."

For more information about the Dream BIG 2013 recipients, view their profiles at www.thisisretail.org/dreambig.

University of Phoenix and NRF plan to run the Dream BIG scholarship program again in 2014, providing more retail associates with the opportunity to further their careers through education.