Student wins Zonta Int. Women in Business Scholarship

Mrs Gladys Abena Kumi, a Level 300 Banking and Finance student of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has emerged the ultimate winner of the 2014 Zonta International Women in Business Scholarship competition.

A statement issued by Mrs Vera Akumiah, Deputy Director, Public Affairs of UPSA and copied to Ghana News Agency on Thursday said a cheque for GH? 3,800.00 was presented to Mrs Kumi at a ceremony held on the campus of the UPSA on April 8.

The President of the Zonta Club of Accra II, Mrs Yvette Adounvo Atekpe in her remarks said: “We are very privileged to have our district winner coming from Ghana and from your university; I believe it’s a great honour that our award recipient has done for the country, the university and our club.”

She noted that the scholarship goes to undergraduate women to encourage them to take up leadership positions in business.

“Zonta International is made up of professional women in various businesses across the globe. So we are very happy this morning to present the certificate and the award to Mrs Gladys Abena Kumi from the UPSA.”

She stated that the scholarship was instituted in memory of Jane M. Klausman of the Zonta Club of Syracuse in the United States who bequeathed all her wealth to the advancement of women in business around the world.

“This scholarship has been ongoing since 1998. Zonta International has spent over $ 650,000 in awarding scholarships across 44 countries in the world,” Mrs Atekpe added.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University, Mr Mawuli Feglo, Dean of Students, thanked the delegation from the Zonta Club and Zonta International for the honour done the University.

He said: “I will also appeal that your support should go beyond scholarships. Since you are women in business, I will like you to mentor and absorb our young ladies into your fold after they have completed the university. You may either find jobs for them or teach them ways they can establish their own businesses, so they can also institute scholarships of this nature to support other people in the future.”

On her part, a visibly elated Mrs Kumi said: “I say thanks to God for making me the winner of the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship 2014. I am also grateful to Zonta International for giving me this award; I am also grateful to the University of Professional Studies, Accra for giving me the opportunity to participate in Zonta activities.”

“I was really surprised when the President of the club called to inform me that I had won the scholarship. In fact I was very happy, because I wasn’t expecting it. So once again, thank you Zonta, thank you UPSA, I really appreciate it,” added.

The scholarship is open to all female students studying business related degrees in tertiary institutions around the world. The 2015 Award Competition is currently ongoing and students are welcome to apply at http://www.zonta.org.

Apart from the scholarship, the Zonta Club of Accra II also provides mentoring to young women, ongoing support to females in basic and tertiary institutions, and care for paediatric cancer patients.

Mrs Yvette Adounvo Atekpe, President of the Club was accompanied by Nana Appiah Searyoh, Second Vice President of the Club, Anne-Marie French Cudjoe, Lt. Governor of District 18, which is made up of Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Liberia; and other members of the club.