Jane M. Klausman Women In Business Scholarship
Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers, and leadership roles they were once denied. However, today, women are still more likely to be pouring the coffee in global boardrooms than sitting on the boards. According to a 2019 Catalyst Census, women hold only 4.8 percent of the CEO positions and 21.2 percent of board seats at Fortune 500 companies. The Jane M. Klausman 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. Since the program’s inception, Zonta has awarded 564 scholarships, totaling more than US$1.3 million to 428 women representing 57 countries.
Established in 1998 from a generous bequest by Jane M. Klausman, a member of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship is awarded annually to women pursuing undergraduate or Master’s degrees in business management. There is more information about the program here.
The Zonta Club of Denver will award a scholarship of $1,500 to the successful applicant. The club scholarship recipient also will be entered to win two scholarships, one totaling $2,500 ($500 from District 12 and $2,000 from Zonta International) awarded at the district level and one of 6 international scholarships in the amount of $8,000 each. The Zonta Club of Denver is in Zonta International’s District 12, comprising 20 clubs in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. The scholarships may be used for tuition, books, or living expenses at any university, college, or institution offering accredited business courses and degrees.
Eligibility
Women pursuing a business or business-related degree who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field are eligible. Online students are also eligible. Classified members and employees of Zonta International or the Zonta International Foundation, and their family members, are not eligible.
Application Process
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program operates at the club, district, and international levels of Zonta International. To apply, please complete the application here and submit it via email to: zontadenver.zcd@nullgmail.com. If you have difficulty opening the application, please email zontadenver.zcd@nullgmail.com.
Verification of enrollment must be sent by mail to:
Zonta Club of Denver
Attention: Service Chair
Address PO Box 2665
Denver, CO 80201
303-910-0373
Deadline
The application deadline for the 2020 scholarship is May 9, 2020.
Zonta Club of Denver Scholarship Winners
2019 Scholarship Winner, Taylor Pinson
The 2019 Jane M. Klausman scholarship was awarded to Taylor Pinson. Taylor is a junior at Metropolitan State University who is majoring in Marketing and Business Management. Taylor is an exemplary student. While taking one of the more difficult courses on the Metro campus in the Principles of Accounting, Taylor’s instructor commented on Taylor’s motivation and professionalism in the classroom. In describing Taylor, the instructor stated, “Ms. Pinson is always professional and engaging in class. Her questions are always astute and relevant. Her diligence in understanding the material is commendable and demonstrates her motivation for learning as well as her intellectual independence.”
Taylor is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society and serves as the secretary. A business student must be in the top 10% of her class to be eligible for membership. As secretary, she has organized events including the induction ceremony for new members. Networking with professionals in marketing has been a priority for Taylor. She has shown initiative in making numerous business contacts. One of Taylor’s goals as secretary of the Business Honor Society is to make connections with local small business owners to provide more networking opportunities for the other members.
While enrolled in school, Taylor is working as a respite care provider. In addition, Taylor finds time to volunteer with many community organizations such as the Battered Women’s Shelter, Mountain States Children’s Home, and Operation Christmas Child.
2018 Scholarship Winner, Holly Brower
Holly Brouwer is the 2018 Jane M. Klausman scholarship recipient. Holly received her B.S. in Finance and Business Information and Analytics from the University of Denver. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Holly worked and interned in finance. Her supervisor at CAM Investor Solutions commented on Holly’s ability to adapt quickly to an entrepreneurial environment. She was able to demonstrate her analytical skills and understanding of how to better improve a process while keeping the focus on the client experience. In addition, Holly volunteered with the Office of Student Engagement as an Executive Board member and Event Planner for DU’s Programming Board. She was also a student leader with DU’s Ethics Bootcamp Program. Holly is currently working on a master’s degree in Applied Quantitative Finance at the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business.
Holly is passionate about social justice and social responsibility, especially in the finance industry. She aspires to work in an environment where client needs and education are a priority. Holly is extremely interested in nonprofit finance. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives while loving her career. Talented in problem-solving, working with people, and gaining insight from data, Holly is someone who considers the impact of her future career greater than any financial award.