College of Business to host International Women’s Day networking event

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Former student Justine Carnagey works on a computer in Calvin Hall on Oct. 14, 2014. (Archive photo by George Walker | Collegian Media Group)

On March 8, Kansas State’s College of Business will hold an event bringing different women-led organizations together to celebrate International Women’s Day, Megan Ronnebaum, program consultant for the College of Business, said.

“We want to connect women across campus, let them network and meet each other and let everyone celebrate International Women’s Day,” Ronnebaum said.

The event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the College of Business Atrium. Students can visit approximately 12 different women-led campus organizations. Ronnebaum said food trucks will also be located in the parking lot south of the business building.

Each organization’s table will have activities for students to participate in and enjoy. Marcia Hornung, director of the Center for Principled Business, said they will also provide information on how to get involved. In addition, students will receive a “passport” at the welcome table when they enter the event.

“If you grab what we are calling a passport when you visit each table, they will mark the passport,” Hornung said. “If you visit all the tables, turn that in and you will receive food vouchers for the food trucks.”

Hornung said all food trucks will be women-owned businesses.

“Another key to this is we really want to celebrate women and support women-owned businesses,” Hornung said.

The event will tie in the International Women’s Day theme, #BreakTheBias, Hornung said.

“The theme is really focused on gender parity: we know that in the United States, women make 82 cents per every dollar a man makes,” Hornung said. “So, we still have gaps whether we like to believe that or not.”

Hornung said International Women’s Day marks the call to action for accelerating gender equality.

“We want to align with that theme by celebrating women’s achievements and spreading awareness, so we will have facts about gender bias scrolling on the screens in the building,” Hornung said. “We just want to get more people involved and connected on campus.”

Katie Schmit, freshman in marketing and student assistant for the event, said spreading awareness is essential for women who are students.

“From my position, I have been able to research statistics regarding women in the workplace, and it has been really eye-opening to see how much of a disadvantage women still have today,” Schmit said. “Being able to spread the word about this across campus will be so important.”

Ronnenbaum said the event is a great opportunity for women in the College of Business to connect with other women on campus.

“You never know when you are out of college who you are going to network with, who you could potentially work with or who you might support in different roles,” Ronnenbaum said. “So, this is a chance for women in business to connect with other ladies and help with the business side of things.”

Women-led campus organizations looking to host a table at the event still have time to join by visiting the sign-up sheet on the College of Business website.

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