Left to right: Joshua Leavell, Melvin Hernandez, Derrick Medina, Chrisfer Hyppolite, Alexia Adamas
Each year, the NRF Foundation honors a partner who exemplifies an extraordinary collaboration with the use of RISE Up training and credentialling to prepare students to begin a career in retail. Our 2025 Partner of the Year is making waves, taking the learning outside the classroom.
The College of the Florida Keys offers an inclusive post-secondary education program called Project ACCESS (Accessing Community College Educational experiences, Social experiences, and Skills for careers) that focuses on students with intellectual disabilities and autism, preparing them for the professional world.
Dr. Nina Medyk teaches many of the classes within the program, centering on courses students take in their first year. She integrated the NRF Foundation RISE Up Retail Industry Fundamentals credential into one of her courses. Read on to discover the ways it has enhanced Medyk’s classroom.