The Zonta Foothills Foundation is pleased to introduce, Dareen Khairi, our 2024 Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship winner.

Dareen Khairi is a first-year MBA candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Dareen explains “Growing up as a Palestinian Jordanian Muslim female I understood that marriage was the ultimate societal goal. That no matter what achievement or milestone I accomplish people will say, “I hope to see you get married, God willing”. Pursuing my Master of Business Administration is not only a personal educational endeavor but also a rebellion against societal norms…climbing up the education ladder and furthering myself professionally and personally.

“By becoming a beacon of change and a role model for other women, I hope to inspire them to pursue their own aspirations. As a Ghanian scholar once said, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family [nation]”. I want to be the change I want to see in my community, and my region and that starts with the transformative power of education.”

What is The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship?

Zonta International believes in gender equality and through The Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship we are working to elevate women into leadership positions in the business arena. First awarded in 1998, The JMK Scholarship helps women pursue undergraduate and master's degrees in business management to overcome gender barriers from classroom to boardroom at local and international levels.

How does The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship work?

Women in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a Masters program are eligible to apply (Application here). The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County selects a local winner to receive their $2,000 scholarship. This business student is then considered for additional scholarship funding at both the district and international levels. The District 12 winner, selected from a four-state region (CO, MT, SD, WY), receives an additional $1,000 scholarship and the Zonta International Board then awards 31 International winners with an additional $5,000 award.