December 10, 2025

Drexel University is proud to announce that two seniors in its Fashion Industry & Merchandising (FIM) program, Madison-Jade Bishop and Emme Serafino, have been named among the top five national finalists for the 2026 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship, one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards in the retail and fashion industry.

The Next Generation Scholarship is the NRF Foundation’s premier program for students pursuing careers in retail. Finalists are selected through a highly competitive, multi-stage process that includes a summer case study in partnership with Crate & Barrel, multiple interviews with retail professionals and NRF representatives, and evaluation of each student’s leadership potential and vision for the future of the industry.

As national finalists, Bishop and Serafino have earned distinguished recognition for their creativity, industry insight, and leadership promise. Each finalist receives a $10,000 tuition scholarship and remains in consideration for the Foundation's top award — a $25,000 tuition scholarship, which will be announced on stage at the NRF Foundation Honors Gala in New York City on January 11, 2026. All five finalists will be honored at the event as exceptional emerging leaders shaping the future of retail.

Congratulations to Madison-Jade and Emme on this extraordinary achievement.