Student

Two Teams of FIDM Students Are NRF Foundation Student Challenge Finalists

The 2021 NRF Foundation Student Challenge finalists includes three teams: two from FIDM and one from Savannah College of Art and Design. The teams of undergraduate students will give their final presentations today and judging will take place this week with leaders from Target and Nordstrom, according to the NRF Foundation Blog. The results of the NRF Foundation Student Challenge business competition will be announced during virtual NRF 2021: Retail's Big Show - Chapter One later this month. 

For the challenge, the finalist teams acted as entrepreneurs, establishing small businesses ventures and creating a set of products to pitch to major retailers. FIDM Students Ellie Smith (A.A. Merchandise Product Development, Advanced A.A. IMPD, B.S. Business Management), Etheline Ting (A.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Design), and Emily Wilken (A.A. Textile Design, B.A. Design) proposed a modular sustainable furniture line for Target, “Home Planet x Target,” while the other team from FIDM – Kaci Balfany (A.A. Graphic Design, B.S. Business Management), Ysabella Gardner (A.A. Merchandising & Marketing, B.S. Business Management), and Tiffany Makdissy (A.A. Fashion Design, B.A. Design) – pitched an antimicrobial accessories/clothing line for the children’s department Nordstrom, “Berri+Cade x Nordstrom.” 

“The NRF Foundation Student Challenge offers students an opportunity to apply many of the tools and ideas from their education and demonstrate that they can perform at a very high level,” said FIDM Instructor Tom Selinske, who coached the students along with Sheryl Marcus and Rich Gordon. “This is exemplified by having our two teams in the top three finalists out of 28 teams nationally.”

Each member of the top team will receive a $6,000 tuition scholarship, while students on the second-place team will be awarded $3,500 each. Members of the third-place team receive $2,500 per student. Since its launch, more than $300,000 in funds have been awarded through the NRF Foundation Student Challenge. Good luck to both FIDM team finalists!

Follow NRF Foundation on Instagram and Twitter at @nrffoundation and like them on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Categories:  Business Management Design Fashion Design Graphic Design International Manufacturing & Product Development Merchandise Product Development Merchandising & Marketing Textile Design Industry Partnerships Student