Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied. However, they still comprise a minority of leaders in the business world. As of December 2020, 21.2% of S&P 500 companies’ board seats are occupied by women, and just 6% of the companies CEOs are women.
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Because Zonta International believes in gender equality, the Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship program helps women pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the boardroom. The Zonta Foundation for Women awarded the first Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships in 1998 to women pursuing degrees in business leading to a business management career. Jane M. Klausman was a member of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, USA, and the 1990-1995 Zonta International Parliamentarian. During her career, Ms Klausman was a professional secretary, parliamentarian and entrepreneur.
The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Zonta International offers 37 international scholarships of US$5,000. Each district/region may submit one application for consideration for an international scholarship. The five largest districts may submit a second applicant for a total of two applicants.
Since the program’s inception, Zonta has awarded 676 scholarships, totalling more than US$1.6 million, to 522 women representing 66 countries.
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships are awarded to women undertaking business studies who have demonstrated outstanding potential in the field. Zonta International offers up to 37 international scholarships of US$5,000 each. Any woman undertaking a business program at an accredited university/college/institute, including online students, in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master’s program at the time the application is submitted to the local Zonta club, is eligible to apply. The Scholarship may be used at any university, college or institute offering accredited courses and degrees.
Benefits
- Zonta International offers 37 international scholarships of US$5,000.
Eligibilities
- Women of any age, pursuing a business program with a major field of specialization in accounting, economics, finance, business management, business technology, information technology, marketing, operations management, human resources management, international business, or entrepreneurship at an accredited university/college/institute, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region, are eligible.
- Online students are also eligible to apply if enrolled at an accredited university/college/institute.
- Students must be enrolled in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master’s program at the time the application is submitted to the local Zonta club.
- Applicants must be in school at the time the scholarship funds are disbursed and must not graduate before April 2023.
- Previous district and international Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship recipients may not apply to renew the Scholarship for a second year.
- Classified members (club members and individuals with direct membership with Zonta International) and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women, and their family members (ancestors, descendants, adoptees, siblings, nieces or cousins, and those of their spouse or co-habiting partner), are not eligible to apply for the Scholarship.
- Golden Z club members are eligible to apply.
Note that applicants from geographic areas within a Zonta district/region where no clubs are located will be considered and are eligible to apply for the international scholarships via a Zonta district/region.
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be undertaking a business and/or business-related program at an accredited university/college/institute.
- Enrolled in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a Master’s program at the time the application is submitted to the local Zonta club or district.
- Applicants must still be attending school at the time the scholarship funds are disbursed to receive this scholarship.
- Must submit the Zonta International verification of current enrollment form (see page 11) with application materials. Acceptance letters are not verification of enrollment and will not be accepted.
- Achieved an outstanding academic record during her academic studies, including business subjects.
- Demonstrated initiative, ambition and commitment to pursuing a career in business.
Application Process
Complete an official application in English. Please note that only typed applications will be accepted and considered. All non-English documents must be translated into English. The following documents are to be submitted in the application package. Applications can be downloaded from the Zonta International website, (www.zonta.org) and must include:
- One (1) recommendation from a faculty member in the major field of study.
- One (1) recommendation from an employer, volunteer supervisor, or academic advisor. (Classified members and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women are not eligible to write recommendation letters for applicants.)
- Essay of 500 words or less that clearly describes your academic and professional goals, the relevance of your program to the business field, demonstrates your initiative, ambition and commitment to pursuing a career in business, and defines how the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship will assist you in reaching your goals. (Essays exceeding 500 words will not be considered.)
- Zonta International verification of current enrollment form signed by the university/college/institute registrar (see page 11 of application). Acceptance letters are not verification of enrollment and will not be accepted. Please note that students from the southern hemisphere may have limited academic records available when the application is due to the club or district/region. If further records are available later, these records may be included when the district/region forwards their nominee to Zonta International for consideration in the selection of the international Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships. Candidates for the international scholarships may be asked to submit their most recent academic results for consideration.
- List and include official detailed transcripts of grades or equivalent records for all universities, colleges or institutes attended with an explanation of the grading system for each transcript submitted. Note: Grades for the current area of studies must be included to be considered. Copies of unofficial transcripts will not be accepted.
- All non-English documents must be translated into English.
- Applicants from geographic areas within a Zonta district/region where no clubs are located may apply via a Zonta e-club or directly to the district/region to be eligible for the international scholarships. All application materials must be received at the Zonta club by the deadline printed on the application. If the Zonta club contact information is not printed on the application, please locate a Zonta club nearest you by using the Club Locator at http://www.zonta.org, or email your name and contact information to Zonta International Headquarters at [email protected]. Please note that applicants may not apply to more than one Zonta district.
- Articles, pamphlets, books, curriculum vitae or other publications are not requested and will not be considered.
- Applications that are incomplete or late due to postal delays, transmittal by third parties, or other circumstances will not be considered. Applications are accepted by email or regular mail; however, email submissions are preferred. Applications submitted by email must be signed and sent as a PDF.
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Application Deadline: August 15, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
