SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) today announced the winners of the inaugural Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition during a special awards luncheon held at the Governor’s Mansion and attended by Gov. JB Pritzker.
The event brought together student finalists, retail industry leaders, and elected officials to recognize the next generation of retail innovators. Winning teams were awarded scholarships of up to $60,000 for developing creative solutions to business challenges facing today’s retail industry.
“The Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition showcases the incredible creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities of young people across Illinois,” said Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “We’re thrilled to celebrate the next generation of retail leaders and congratulate the finalists on their impressive work.”
The Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition is the first program of its kind in Illinois. Supported through grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the competition encourages high school seniors to develop practical solutions to issues impacting the retail sector. Illinois high school seniors worked in teams of two to four to develop proposals in collaboration with leading retail partners, Roundy’s/Mariano’s and Walgreens. Student teams submitted their business proposals to retail leaders, who selected the top teams to receive scholarships totaling up to $60,000.
“I’m proud to congratulate Illinois’ next generation of retail leaders whose passion and ingenuity will help power the industry in the years to come,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From local shops to regional businesses to major national chains, retailers shape our communities. This competition encourages students from across the state to engage with our robust retail industry and carry on Illinois’ proud tradition of innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.”
The competition was designed to inspire student engagement, encourage workforce development, and strengthen the future of Illinois’ retail industry by connecting students directly with real-world business challenges and industry professionals. Retail is Illinois’ largest private-sector employer, generating more than $112 billion in annual economic activity.
“With DCEO grant support, doors to opportunities for the next generation of retail innovators are opening through the Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition,” said Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Kristin Richards. “Students are showing off their ingenuity by developing real-world solutions for Illinois’ retail sector that will help today’s retail industry while preparing students for their future careers.”
The winning teams are:
First Place ($60,000 per team)
- Olivia Raczkowska and Jillian Hedke – East Leyden High School, Franklin Park
- Tristan Baxter, Aden Blome, and Naga Sai Dhiraj Kasam – Moline High School, Moline
Second Place ($40,000 per team)
- Sanchi Deshpande and Ayan Mahajan – Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Vernon Hills
- Sahana Harini Raja, Yug Mehta, and Meira Raitani – Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Vernon Hills
Third Place ($20,000 per team)
- Jaden Ahn and Sushant Medikondla – Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook
Honorable Mention ($2,000 per person)
- Josephine Hartman and Jack Armstrong – Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein
- Callista Hovis and Isabella Garza – Eisenhower High School, Decatur and Meridian High School, Macon
- Lynn Welborn and Kaitlyn McKinney – Marshall Community High School, Marshall and Casey-Westfield High School, Casey
- Kennedy Smith and Jeremy Ivy – Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, Chicago
For more information about the Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition, click here.
About the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA)
One of the largest state retail organizations in the United States, IRMA serves as the voice of retail and the business community in state government. Founded in 1957, IRMA represents more than 23,000 stores of all sizes and merchandise lines. From the nation’s largest retailers to independent businesses in every corner of the state, merchants count on IRMA to fight for the best possible environment in which to do business in Illinois. For more information, visit https://irma.org
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