Illinois – High school retail scholarship entries are due March 30, with up to $60,000 available in the state’s first-ever competition of its kind.
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is accepting applications for the inaugural Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition, open to high school seniors statewide. Final proposals must be submitted by Monday, March 30, 2026.
According to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, students will form teams of two to four to develop practical solutions to real-world retail business challenges. Participating partners include Roundy’s/Mariano’s and Walgreens, which will collaborate with students and help evaluate final presentations.
Selected teams will present their ideas to retail industry leaders. Top-performing teams can earn up to $60,000 in scholarship funding.
The competition is supported by grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Retail is Illinois’ largest private-sector employer, generating approximately $112 billion annually in economic activity.
“As the application window enters its final month, we encourage students to seize this opportunity to bring forward new ideas, gain real-world experience, and compete for substantial scholarship funding,” said Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.
Students must first complete an intent-to-participate form on IRMA’s website before submitting final materials.
For Illinois high school seniors preparing for college or careers in business, the competition offers hands-on industry experience alongside potential scholarship support.
