SPRINGFIELD – With just a few weeks left to apply, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) is reminding high school seniors across the state to submit their entries for the Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition by March 30 to qualify for scholarships of up to $60,000.
The first competition of its kind in Illinois, the scholarship challenge encourages high school seniors to develop creative, practical solutions to real business challenges facing the retail sector. Supported by grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the contest is designed to spark innovation, engage students, and strengthen the retail industry, which is the state’s largest private-sector employer, generating $112 billion in economic activity annually.
The Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition is open to all Illinois high school seniors with a passion for innovation, problem-solving, and making an impact. Participating students will work together in teams of two to four people to develop a solution to a real-world retail challenge in collaboration with leading retail partners, including Roundy’s/Mariano’s and Walgreens. A handful of teams will earn the chance to present their pitch to leaders representing participating retailers, with top teams earning up to $60,000 in scholarship funds.
“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. “Retail thrives on new ideas and emerging talent, and we’re proud to partner with Roundy’s/Mariano’s and Walgreens to make this investment in the retail industry’s future.”
All students are asked to notify IRMA of their intention to participate prior to submitting their final proposals by completing the form available here: www.irma.org/scholarship-intent-to-participate. The submission period is open, with all final application materials due by March 30, 2026. To learn more about the Illinois Retail Challenge Scholarship Competition, view the official rules, and submit a proposal, visit IRMA’s website.
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.