Samantha Johnson was the recipient of the 2014 Zonta International District 12 Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship. Her application was submitted by the Zonta Club of Spearfish, South Dakota.
Samantha was born in Pierre, SD and is seeking a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Economics and Finance at Black Hills State University in Spearfish.
After finishing her Bachelor’s degree she plans to start her Master’s of Business Administration at Black Hills State through the University Center and then decide whether to pursue a doctorate in economics.
Her professional goal is to find a job in business management, specifically in higher education. Samantha believes that her academic program will provide her with many opportunities in the future, and that her study of economics and finance will put her ahead of the curve in a search for a job in the business field.
Samantha was involved in campus activities including the Presidential Student Ambassadors, an elite group of students selected for their leadership abilities, their interest in developing professional skills to be used for future employment, along with interacting with University donors and alumni. Ambassadors assist the university president and alumni office with social events and support the community through volunteer projects. Samantha served as an officer of this group for three years, most recently as its president.
One of Samantha’s recommendations described her as “more than simply an A student…a diligent and hard worker…in both her academic and non-academic endeavors…she has good communication skills,…her analytical skills are excellent and…her work ethic is quite strong. She will do well in business or any other endeavor she sets her mind to.” Another said, “Samantha is an outstanding young woman that works well with others. She has the ability to recognize individual as well as collective organizational goals. Succeeding and going beyond what is required is important to her, and she approaches every project with this as the objective.”
Samantha received a scholarship award of $500 from the Zonta Club of Spearfish, a $1,000 award from District 12 and, as a winner of a Zonta International Jane M. Klausman Woman in Business Scholarship, an additional $7,000. The Zonta International scholarship will enable her to pursue a doctorate in economics with the goal of teaching in higher education.
District 12 is proud to have been able to assist this outstanding student.
