Empowering Women in Business: 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, they still comprise a minority of leaders in the business world. As of December of last year, 32% of S&P 500 companies’ board seats are occupied by women, and just 7.4% of the companies' CEOs are women.
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 $5,000. Each district/region may submit one applicant for consideration for an international scholarship.
Application Process
Applications received by Zonta clubs: Contact local club for deadline (generally April-June)
Club recipient is selected and application is received by governor/region representative: 15 August or deadline determined by district/region
District/region applicant selected and application received by ZI Headquarters: 15 October
Official announcement of international recipients: December
The application process must start with a Zonta club. All application materials must be received at a Zonta club by the deadline printed on the application. If you downloaded the application from the Zonta International website, you must contact a Zonta club for deadline information. If the Zonta club contact information is not printed on the application, please locate the Zonta club nearest you by using the Club Locator, or email your name and contact information to Zonta International Headquarters.
Eligibility
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 still be in school at the time the scholarship funds are disbursed and must not graduate before April.
Previous district and international Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship recipients may not apply to renew the Scholarship for a second year.
