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50 Students Awarded Scholarships by the Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation

$125,000 Given to NC Communities through Scholarships

Raleigh, NC – Fifty students will receive financial support from the Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation as they arrive on college campuses in the fall.

The NC Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) (https://ncrma.org/), a nonprofit trade association, and its grocery division, the Carolinas Food Industry Council (CFIC) (http://www.cficweb.org), are helping college students pursue their career dreams. The two organizations, through the Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation (RCA), will give away $125,000 in scholarships this year for the 2020 fall semester.

“Retail accounts for one out of every four jobs, and not all of these jobs are behind a cash register,” said NCRMA President and General Counsel Andy Ellen. “Retail powers North Carolina’s economy with both large and small employers, supporting over 600,000 jobs at headquarters and distribution centers. Retail also collaborates with education initiatives to reach common goals, including a strong and sustainable job market driven by competitive innovation. By supporting higher education goals, we can connect students to opportunities in the economy.”

The awards were offered to high school and college students that work in the retail industry or whose parents work in the retail industry.

Two categories of scholarships were awarded:

  • CFIC awarded 40 Everett & Trudy Suddreth Scholarships of Excellence specific to the grocery industry
  • NCRMA awarded 10 Retail Scholarships of Excellence to general retail

2020 Scholarship Recipients (in alpha order):

Shelby Baker – Summerville – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend Presbyterian College

Hayden Lundin – Cary – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Autobell Car Wash*

Plans to attend University of Alabama

Davis Barnett – Charlotte – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Autobell Car Wash*

Plans to attend NC State University

Emily Mabe – Jackson Springs – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Wake Forest University

Aarron Barr – Mebane – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend NC A&T State University

Sarah Melos – Stokesdale – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Lowes Foods*

Plans to attend UNC Charlotte

Jordan Bastion – Fletcher – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Ingles*

Plans to attend NC State University

Christopher Morel – Wake Forest – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend UNC Charlotte

Logan Blush – Fort Mill – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: E&J Gallo Winery*

Plans to attend Clemson University

Eugenia Morris – Indian Trail – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend Appalachian State University

Tyler  Bunn – Monroe – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Wingate University

Madeline O’Beirne – Greenville – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Walgreens*

Plans to attend East Carolina University

Stephen Campbell – Nichols – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend University of South Carolina

Avery Ollis – Concord – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend University of Tennessee

Margaret Cowher – Concord – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend Wake Forest University

Thomas O’Neal – Cary – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Lowes Foods*

Plans to attend NC State University

Josie DeLellis – High Point  – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill

Jada Randles – Havelock – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Craven CC

Ashlee Falls – Hickory – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Alex Lee, Inc.*

Plans to attend UNC Wilmington

Ashley Rhodes – Fletcher – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Ingles*

Plans to attend NC State University

Kaleigh Fanning – Waxhaw – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Rack Room Shoes*

Plans to attend Virginia Tech

Allison Rogers – Hickory – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Market Basket*

Plans to attend Fayetteville State University

Kyler Gilbert – Wake Forest – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Publix*

Plans to attend Liberty University

Austin Rongo – Mooresville – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend University of Villanova

Steven Greene – Valdese – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Lenoir-Rhyne

Keely Snavely – Charlotte – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend NC State University

Carson  Groce – Clemmons – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill

OJ Leigh Sorbito – Greensboro – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Replacements, Ltd*

Plans to attend UNC Greensboro

Cameron Hagler – Shelby – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Western Carolina University

Stuart Spaugh – Matthews – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend University of Tennessee

Trevon Helm – Winston-Salem – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Duke University

Lauren Teal – Longs – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend University of South Carolina

Ashley Hendrix – East Bend – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Lowes Foods*

Plans to attend Forsyth Technical CC

Abby Turner – Pink Hill  – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: MedSource Pharmacy*

Plans to attend Appalachian State University

Mason Herman – Hudson – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Ingles*

Plans to attend Western Carolina University

William Walker Jr. – Salisbury – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Forsyth Technical CC

David Hogg – Huntersville – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend UNC Charlotte

Landon Warner – Eden – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend UNC Greensboro

Kayla Hylan – Holly Springs – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend Florida Institute of Technology

Kyle Watkins – Greensboro – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Auto Bell Car Wash*

Plans to attend UNC Greensboro

Landon Ketchie – Salisbury – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: CVS*

Plans to attend Piedmont College

Lily Mae Wielar – Charlottesville – NCRMA

Sponsoring Retailer: Chapel Hill Wine Co.*

Plans to attend University College of London

Caroline King – Rutherfordton – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Lakeside Mills*

Plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill

Alston Williams – Wilmington – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Harris Teeter*

Plans to attend NC State University

Megan Layton – Columbia – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend NC A&T State University

Ariel Williams – Fayetteville – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend NC State University

Olivia Libbey – Charlotte – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University

Rhonda Wright – Lexington – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Southern New Hampshire University

Katherine Littlejohn – Asheville – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Ingles*

Plans to attend Western Carolina University

Trenton York – Monroe – CFIC

Sponsoring Retailer: Food Lion*

Plans to attend Wingate University

Funding for the 50 scholarships is provided through the NC Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation (RCA), a nonprofit retail foundation that works with consumers to build strong communities. For more information visit www.rcafnc.org.

* Sponsoring retailers are the member companies who either employ the student or parents of the student.

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About RCA – The Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation (RCA) was organized in 2008 to foster strong community partnerships between consumers and the retail industry. Every year, the foundation funds an annual educational scholarship program that assists students who are working in the retail industry or students who have parents working in retail, by providing awards that pay for college tuition.  The foundation, through CFIC and NCRMA, also contributes annually to the Feeding the Carolinas food banks in North and South Carolina. www.rcafnc.org

About CFIC — A trade organization with members from both North and South Carolina whose mission is to improve the public image, effectiveness and profitability of retailer and supplier companies in the food industry. CFIC represents the food industry perspective to elected officials in both Raleigh and Columbia. Its membership includes all major retail chain stores as well as a large number of independent grocers. Visit our website at www.cficweb.org to learn more.

About NCRMA – The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) is a non-profit trade association that was organized in 1902 to improve the business climate for retail merchants in our state. Over 100 years later, NCRMA is still the voice of the retail industry in North Carolina. The Association’s membership includes more than 25,000 stores from across the state, representing 75 percent of North Carolina’s retail sales volume. NCRMA serves both large and small retailers from multi-state chains to local independents and all types of merchants such as antique, apparel, art, automotive, book, carpet, department, drug, electronics, floral, furniture, grocery, hardware, jewelry, paint and variety stores. www.ncrma.org

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