“Write Your Own Future” MBA Scholarship Contest

Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (LFGSM) announced the “Write Your Own Future” MBA Scholarship Contest — where up to 50 Chicago-area unemployed business professionals will pursue their MBAs for free. The scholarships continue while they actively seek full-time employment and until they land their next positions.

Winners of these full tuition scholarships, which renew each term they remain unemployed and actively pursue employment, will be selected based on their previous levels of responsibility, career progression, performance in an admissions interview and strength of their essays on the topic, “How a Lake Forest MBA will benefit my career, my future employers, and my community.”

 The School envisions awarding the scholarships to individuals who have track records as strong contributors within organizations that were forced to make difficult downsizing decisions. As examples, these winners might be company vice presidents and directors, high-potential managers and healthcare professionals who had assumed management roles. Such professionals are similar to current LFGSM students and, the School believes, would greatly benefit from the Lake Forest MBA experience while being strong assets in the classroom.

“Putting our real-world, results-oriented MBA education within reach of 50 experienced, out-of-work professionals is our way of making a meaningful contribution to the business community that LFGSM was founded to serve," said John Popoli, LFGSM president and CEO in a statement. "Simply put, providing this unique opportunity is consistent with the school’s DNA."

He added that the scholarship program acknowledges that people searching for a new position still have much to offer.

“We want to send a message that in-transition professionals have a lot to offer — now and in the future — in their communities, in the workforce and in the classroom," Popoli said. "This is a win-win for LFGSM and for those we serve — Chicago-area businesses and the current and future business leaders who we are proud to have in our student body.”

Popoli said that Lake Forest Graduate School of Management is offering this scholarship opportunity in recognition that the idling of top talent not only hinders the affected business professionals’ contributions, but also narrows the future leadership bench strength that will be available to the Chicago-area business community in a rebounding economy.

The “Write You Own Future” MBA Scholarship Contest is open to any professional, age 28 and older, who has been laid off since October 31, 2009 and who is actively pursuing their next position. Entrants must be legal U.S. residents who reside in Cook, Lake, DuPage, McHenry or Kane County in Illinois or Kenosha County, Wis. They must have four or more years professional work experience, and must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent. They must not hold an MBA or earn more than $3,000 (gross) monthly income (excluding severance pay).

Entries will be accepted online through April 30, 2011.

Visit www.WriteYourOwnFuture.com for official contest rules and requirements and to submit contest applications. Or learn more at www.Facebook.com/LFGSM. Individuals who are interested in supporting this scholarship initiative through a tax-deductible gift to LFGSM can do so at www.WriteYourOwnFuture.com. To learn more about Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, visit www.LFGSM.edu.