WASHINGTON – The NRF Foundation today announced Phoenix Union High School District’s Trevor G. Browne High School as its 2022 RISE Up Partner of the Year. Presented by Old Navy, the award recognizes the Arizona school for its innovative use of the NRF Foundation’s RISE Up training and credentialing program to make a positive impact on individuals and communities.
"Trevor G. Browne High School is a shining example of how to bring our retail skills training to life in engaging ways that empower people to build great careers.”
"Trevor G. Browne High School is a shining example of how to bring our retail skills training to life in engaging ways that empower people to build great careers,” NRF Foundation Executive Director Bill Thorne said. “The staff is dedicated to ensuring students get the experience and skills they need to thrive in their first roles and beyond.”
Training from the NRF Foundation is offered at Trevor G. Browne High School as part of its marketing program, where students operate an on-campus store. The program provides experience with a wide variety of retail operations including selecting products, setting prices, interacting with customers and working as part of a team.
“The students get the foundational knowledge that they need to be successful,” said teacher John-Martin Rigsby, who spearheads the initiative at Trevor G. Browne High School. “Most students add their RISE Up credential to their resume. They are at the top of the list because they hold that industry credential that employers in our area recognize.”
This recognition can partly be attributed to Rigsby’s outreach with hiring managers at local retailers and campus career fairs, where retailers seek out talent from the pool of candidates trained with RISE Up courses at Phoenix Union’s largest high school.
“Bringing in real-world learning opportunities and providing those connections between what students are learning in school to specific, tangible jobs and workforce opportunities really elevates opportunities for our students, and for our families in this community,” Trevor G. Browne High School Principal Stephanie Streeter said. “It helps students build confidence in their future careers and even helps the families gain experiences as well.”
The 2022 RISE Up Partner of the Year will be celebrated at the NRF Foundation Honors in New York City on April 13. The event will be co-hosted by Macy’s, Inc. Chairman and CEO and NRF Foundation Board Chairman Jeff Gennette and National Retail Federation Board Chairman and former Qurate Retail, Inc. President and CEO Mike George.
In addition to celebrating the RISE Up Partner of the Year, the NRF Foundation Honors recognizes The Visionary and The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future, along with the recipients of its undergraduate scholarships.
Visit nrffoundation.org/riseup for more information about NRF Foundation RISE Up training and credentials, which launched in 2017 and are offered by more than 1,200 partners nationwide. Media interested in covering the event and honorees should contact NRF’s media team at press@nrf.com.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com
About NRF Foundation
The NRF Foundation provides the skills and resources needed for a life-changing career. As NRF's nonprofit 501(c)(3), we connect people to an industry that’s a great place to start and a great place to grow. Together, we help people build better lives and stronger communities. nrffoundation.org
