Ashley Stewart and N.C. A&T Announce The Big Ideas Conference & Scholarship Program

Greensboro, North Carolina (April 6, 2017) – Ashley Stewart and North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University announced today the launch of the Ashley Stewart Leadership Scholarship, an initiative developed to help empower women through education.

The scholarship will be awarded to a female student who exemplifies strong leadership skills in the business and economics disciplines at the university and who demonstrates stewardship in her community. In addition to a $10,000 scholarship, the recipient will be invited to New York City for the “Finding Ashley Stewart 2017” finale in September, where she will be honored.

In conjunction with the launch of the Ashley Stewart Scholarship, N.C. A&T University will offer a dynamic series of educational events with Ashley Stewart during the Big Ideas Conference on Thursday, April 20.  Ashley Stewart’s Executive Chairman and CEO, James Rhee, will host a Private Equity Workshop for students to learn how to manage money and value and invest in consumer brands. Rhee will also be featured at a dinner and fireside chat with Patricia Miller Zollar, Managing Director at Neuberger Berman, which will be moderated by Detavio Samuels, President of iOne Digital and One Solution. The fireside chat will be broadcast on Facebook Live and YouTube Live by Ashley Stewart and N.C. A&T.  

Additionally, Ashley Stewart Style Expert Tamara Ivey and NC A&T alumna Erica Patrice will lead a “Defining Your Personal Brand” seminar. Each session will be open to N.C. A&T students majoring in Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Fashion Merchandising, Economics, Communications or Accounting. Surrounding universities, including UNCG, Greensboro College, Elon University, Winston Salem State University, Wake Forest University, NC Central University, Bennett College, and Guilford College are invited to attend as well.  The personal brand seminar will be broadcast on YouTube Live.

From April 24, 2017 to May 26, 2017, students can apply for the Leadership Scholarship by submitting an application and essay describing how they demonstrate leadership qualities.  Starting May 29, 2017 to June 16, 2017, N.C. A&T will identify 10 applicants, review their academics, and verify financial need. Each finalist will then be invited to submit a one-minute video about her, which will be reviewed by the Ashley Stewart team.  

The scholarship will be awarded at the grand finale of the “Finding Ashley Stewart 2017” tour at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NY on September 16,^, 2017. The “Finding Ashley Stewart Finale” is the culmination of an eight-month tour taking place across Houston, Detroit, Atlanta, Nashville, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Tampa, and New Jersey along with a contest on Ashley’s industry-leading social media channels to round out the top 20 contestants. These women will embody the values of the Ashley Stewart brand: confidence, perseverance, and empowerment. The event will also feature a celebrity performance and is sponsored by the hair care brand Creme of Nature.

The new scholarship and day of education was inspired by Ashley Stewart’s #ASGives platform. The philanthropic platform has awarded scholarships through the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), made donations in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., breast cancer awareness, and will be a platinum sponsor at the 20^th anniversary gala for Dress for Success.

For additional information regarding the Big Ideas Conference at North Carolina A&T State University, please visit http://www.ncat.edu/cobe/welcome/big-ideas.html.

The broadcast timing for the Fireside Chat will be announced on Ashley Stewart’s Facebook page:  www.Facebook.com/byAshleyStewart  

About Ashley Stewart

Ashley Stewart has captured the hearts and minds of curvy women since its founding in 1991 in Brooklyn, New York. Today, Ashley Stewart offers the hottest looks with stores across the United States, a rapidly growing ecommerce presence at http://www.AshleyStewart.com, and an industry leading social media presence. Ashley Stewart stands for uncompromising style, fashion, fit and empowerment for the trend-savvy woman who flaunts her curves. From the perfect pair of jeans to churchflow dresses, smoking hot outfits to #DaretoBare intimates, Ashley Stewart has you covered.