2004-2005

News Release

REF NO.: 155

SUBJECT: Memorial University business student earns international award

DATE: January 19, 2005

Memorial business student Alyson Byrne kicked off her final semester in the bachelor of commerce (co-operative) program with a prestigious international award. Ms. Byrne is one of five women worldwide to receive the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship valued at $4,000 US.

“I saw a call for applications on our class listserv and decided to apply,” she said. “One day, a friend of mine searched my name on the Internet for fun and he found a news release saying that I had won the Zonta International district scholarship. I immediately thought that no applicant from Memorial has won the district award without winning the international award. Later, I discovered I had received the international award.”

Ms. Byrne, who will be graduating in May, recently returned from an academic exchange at Uppsala University in Sweden. She is active in several class and university committees, and believes that the small class size at Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration encourages students to get involved and assume leadership roles. “Because you get to know your classmates and the others in the faculty, it makes it easier to speak up and get involved,” she said.

This is the fourth time a bachelor of commerce (co-operative) student from Memorial has received this award. In 2000, Beth Suvak received the award and Laura Wellon received the award in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, no one from Memorial applied. The award recognizes women for their academic achievement, leadership and community service.

“The Zonta Club of St. John’sis an integral part of the process in promoting the scholarship at Memorial and we are very proud that a Memorial business student has claimed this international award for the fourth time,” said Susan Morrison, a past Area Director for District 1 and a member of the Zonta Club of St. John’s. “I think that truly speaks to the outstanding caliber of the women in our province.”

Zonta International is a global service organization of women executives and professionals working to advance the status of women. The Zonta International Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program was established to encourage undergraduate women to enter careers and to seek leadership positions in business-related fields.

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