For the 2023 NRF Foundation Student Challenge, teams of two to four students from NRF University Member schools competed in the business case competition for a chance to earn tuition scholarships and industry recognition.
Teams pitched their ideas for a growth strategy for Public Lands, a new outdoor specialty retail concept with a unique mission – to celebrate and protect public lands for all.
Pitches were evaluated by a group of retail executive judges on their research and understanding, creativity and feasibility, visual effectiveness and structure and quality. Ten teams advanced to the semifinals, which included Q&A calls with a panel of new retail executive judges.
Three teams advanced to the final round, where they pitched to a third panel of judges.
The Scholarships
Each student on the top team received a $7,000 scholarship; students on the runner-up team received a $5,000 scholarship, and third place team members each received a $2,500 scholarship.
Top Team
![NRF Foundation - University Challenge - FSU](http://cdn.nrffoundation.org/sites/default/files/styles/crop_750_486/public/2023-04/nrff_university-challenge_teams-2023_FSU_0.jpg?itok=9rQSD_dw)
Delaney Hanson, Grace Long, Alison MacCloud, Gustavo Rubio
Finalist Teams
![NRF Foundation - University Challenge - FIDM](http://cdn.nrffoundation.org/sites/default/files/styles/crop_750_486/public/2023-04/nrff_university-challenge_teams-2023_FIDM_0.jpg?itok=pa-S7KJO)
Kiera Berry, Shannon Curley, Kristin Hall, Avery Van der Linden
![NRF Foundation University Challenge - Columbia College Chicago](http://cdn.nrffoundation.org/sites/default/files/styles/crop_750_486/public/2023-04/nrff_university-challenge_teams-2023_Columbia_0.jpg?itok=2mZQ6J9X)
Ivonne Malagon, Alexis Norris, Juan Osorio, Aleesa Wright