Business Women's Forum to Award Scholarships to Post University Students

The Business Women’s Forum (BWF), will present two $3,000 scholarships to Ms. Brianna Root of Bristol, CT, and Ms. Sijia Sun of Shanghai, China, both of whom are students in the Malcolm Baldrige School of Business at Post University in Waterbury. The awards will be presented at the 34th BWF Conference under the theme of Strategies for Success which will be held at the Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville on October 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

BWF 2016 keynote speaker will be Judy Smith, crisis management expert, author, and the woman whose work in crisis management was the inspiration for the hit TV show, “Scandal”, and the morning’s motivational speaker will be Christine Cashen, author of “The Good Stuff: Quips & Tips on Life, Love, Work, and Happiness” and it is anticipated that over 500 people will be in attendance.

Sandra Wilson, Esq., Academic Program Manager, Criminal Justice at Post University, a program at the John P. Burke School of Public Service, a BWF Board Member, and the BWF Scholarship Committee Chairwoman, stated, “The Committee received 12 nominations for this year’s scholarships and interviewed 8 of the impressive candidates. The Committee had to make the difficult decision to select two recipients who we are confident will achieve great success in their futures. A college education is fundamental to the success of young women today and providing financial assistance greatly improves their future.” 

Briana Root, who is studying for a dual degree in sport management and communication and media studies and minoring in art, was Freshmen Class President and plays volleyball and softball. She said that she is “very excited and honored to have won this prestigious award. I will continue to work hard and push myself to become the best I can in the business world representing women everywhere.”

In her award-winning essay, Ms. Root wrote, “Business is always changing and making great strides. I am really interested in sport management because sports are an unpredictable world. You do not always know how the players will perform so what is around the fans is very important. The way you advertise and entertain could make or break a game for a family who decided to take part in your business. With sports there is usually a wide range of generations that are watching and attending. This opens up a lot of different opportunities for advertising and how to sport your business ideas.

My long term career plan is to be a General Manager of a sports team because they know how everything should be run, they are wise and know they are talking about. Throughout my entire high school career, I always earned honors. Also I was a student athlete that required me to maintain at least a B average while being on a varsity sport for two years. Now in my first semester of college I made the Dean’s list and was .02 on my GPA from making the President’s list. I want to learn to put what I learn into my life and career.”

Scholarship winner Sijia Sun, from Shanghai, is a junior at Post University majoring in accounting. She began her honors program at the end of her first year at Post, where she stated she has participated in “many interesting activities, meetings, and trips. From the study at Post, I think I could become a businesswoman because I understand how different the cultures of China and America are. I could do well in communicating with people around the world.”

In her application essay, Ms. Sun wrote, “The whole experience in America makes me realize that there are many differences between America and China. I want to work as accountant in an international company because I know better than people who only spend their life in one country. I know there are a lot of differences in languages, cultures, habits and financial statements. For now, I am a member for honor program, and achieved Presidents list status for two years.”

The thriving BWF, a non-profit under the auspices of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is led by female executives dedicated to the professional and personal growth of working women. BWF’s mission is to raise scholarship funds for female Post University students pursuing a degree in business, and over the past 33 years, in excess of $190,000 in scholarships has been granted.

This year’s highly-informative conference will include two keynote speakers, six professional development workshops, day-long networking opportunities, breakfast, lunch and a high-energy closing reception with hors d’oeuvres, beverages, raffle and door prizes.

The Star Partner major sponsor of the 2016 BWF is Post University.

To learn more, and to register, visit www.2016bwf.com, or call the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation at 203-757-0701.

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Submitted by Newtown, CT

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