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Pamela Lyon of Plymouth, formerly of Thomaston, and Siobhan Coffey of Waterbury, will be awarded 2010 Business Women's Forum (BWF®) Scholarships at the September 23 conference in Hartford, Connecticut. Paula Abdul, entertainer and business woman, will be the keynote speaker at the all-day 2010 BWF®.
Ms. Lyon and Ms. Coffey will both enter their senior years at Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut this fall. Ms. Lyon carries a double major in Equine Business Management and Accounting, and has been on the dean’s list every year of college. Ms. Coffey is pursuing a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting. This will be the second time Ms. Coffey will be a proud graduate of Post University. Her first Bachelors of Science degree in marketing was earned in 2004.
"While all of the candidates for this year's scholarship were tremendously impressive, Siobhan and Pamela’s applications stood out,” stated Sandra Wilson, Esq., Criminal Justice Academic Program Manager with Post University in Waterbury, and Chairwoman of the 2010 BWF® Scholarship Committee. “One of the attributes that the BWF Scholarship Committee seeks in a potential awardee is an ability to express how the scholarship will benefit them in overcoming economic hardship and reaching their future goals in business. Both Siobhan and Pamela were not only heartfelt and honest in describing multiple challenges, but told compelling stories about their journeys to become successful business leaders." The academic achievements and scholarship application essays of both students will earn them each a $3,000 scholarship that will be presented during the 28th annual Business Women’s Forum in Hartford on Sept. 23.
The Business Women's Forum is a program of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce Foundation, sponsored by numerous Connecticut-based companies, and it is Connecticut’s largest and longest-running full-day annual conference for women. During the past 27 years, BWF® has generated more than $100,000 in scholarship funds for female college students to pursue a business education. “The mission of BWF®,” explained Lynn Ward, president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, and 2010 BFW® Director, “is our continual commitment to equality of opportunity and advancement for women in business.”
Kristen Rowland, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for HCS, Inc. in Rocky Hill, CT, 2010 BWF® supporting member, and Chairwoman of the 2010 Business Women’s Forum, remarked, “It is always an exceptional opportunity to award an ambitious woman a scholarship to achieve her goals and dreams. In 2010, the supporting members of the 2010 Business Women’s Forum are especially pleased to award two women financial support to help them to strive further to achieve their career ambitions.”
A June 2007 graduate of Oliver Wolcott Tech in Torrington, CT, Pamela Lyon was raised in Thomaston with two older brothers and her father. During high school she took up Plumbing and HVAC as her trades of choice, and continues today to spend much of her spare time riding horses or playing softball. “My family has always been a huge inspiration for me,” stated Ms. Lyon. A naturally-competitive person, Ms. Lyon excelled while in high school in plumbing competitions across the state and nation. At Oliver Wolcott Tech, she was president of Skills USA, and vice president of the National Honor Society. Upon graduation, she finished fourth in her class and was anxious to further her education at Post University. Today she is on Post University’s Deans’ List for her third consecutive year, is a member of the Equestrian Team, and holds down part-time jobs.
Siobhan Coffey of Waterbury is pursuing her second degree at Post University, and will enter her senior year in the fall of 2010. After graduating from Post in May of 2004 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in marketing, she worked several years in the marketing field. “While I initially chose marketing as a career path, it was very different from accounting. Business is in my blood. My father is an accountant, as was my grandfather before him. My mother has worked in the City of Waterbury’s payroll department for several years. When I worked part-time as a bookkeeper, I realized accounting is where I excel. Accounting is what brought me back to Post University.” In addition to working towards graduating in May 2011 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting, Ms. Coffey is pursuing a fraud certificate at Post University and she will obtain the CPA licensure. Ultimately, she wants to embark on a career in forensic accounting.
In addition to presentation of the two scholarships, the 2010 BWF® (2010bwf.com) will offer networking opportunities and nine business development workshops throughout the day on “Social Media Spaghetti”; “Speak as Well as You Think”; “Winning Strategies for Women Leaders”; “Transition Power Tools”; “Building Relationships for Better Results”; “Vocal Power and Body Language Intelligence”, and “Breakthrough to Abundant Success”.
Paula Abdul is the 28th high-profile speaker featured at the annual BWF®. During the past 27 years, the BWF® has welcomed keynote addresses by Robin Roberts, Goldie Hawn, Jamie Lee Curtis, Suze Orman, Jane Seymour, Susan St. James, Chris Madden, Ann Curry, and Faith Popcorn. The 2010 Business Women's Forum (BWF®) will begin with a motivational presentation by Jill Blashack Strahan, founder/CEO of Tastefully Simple, a $100-million plus enterprise of direct sales, easy-to-prepare foods and gifts that she began in a shed. Ms. Blashack Strahan is recognized as one of the nation’s top women entrepreneurs and an “Inc. 500” CEO All Star. She will share three entrepreneurial success factors, and her philosophy for building a multi-million dollar business.
“Refresh, Reset, Renew” is the inspiring theme of the 28th annual Forum at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford that will be held 8 am to 5 pm. Current corporate supporters of the 2010 BWF® include Presenting Sponsor, Wachovia Bank; Premier Partners, Webster Bank; and Media Sponsor is the “Hartford Business Journal”.
Tickets for the 2010 Business Women’s Forum are $175/person, and can be obtained by visiting the official website.
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