Tweet: Congrats to the three @SgSMU students who received the #MasterCard MBA Scholarships for #Women 2014 http://bit.ly/Ow822y

[Singapore, 27 February 2014] – MasterCard today announced the recipients of the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women 2014. Three Singapore Management University (SMU) MBA students have been awarded full scholarships as part of a collaboration between MasterCard and SMU. The 2014 recipients – Tarini Kumar (India), Presthysa Nagitha Lestari (Indonesia) and Bhavya Sharma (India) – were selected for their excellent academic record and entrepreneurship potential as well as passion for community service.

The MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women, which is in its fourth year, is awarded to full-time female MBA candidates from Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The program aims to empower awardees to better manage their academic and community commitments, further developing them into academically outstanding, business savvy and socially responsible women. The three scholarship recipients will also get to go through an internship with MasterCard, where they will learn more about the business and operations of the global payments company.

Dr Philip Zerrillo, SMU’s Dean, Postgraduate Professional Programmes, said, “We are very grateful to MasterCard for the continuous support that they have been giving to our female students in the SMU MBA programme. We are very proud of Tarini, Presthysa and Bhavya for their achievements; this scholarship not only affirms their commitment and contributions to the community, it also spurs them on to achieve excellence beyond their academic pursuits.  Such encouragement from MasterCard promotes a greater awareness and understanding of the important role that women play in business and society, and enables the advancement of more women into senior leadership roles in businesses for greater diversity in the workplace.”

Tarini Kumar said, "The award of the MasterCard Scholarship has strengthened my conviction in my core belief of achieving excellence without sacrificing my social responsibilities. It also gives credence to my inherent creative self by providing me with the opportunity to explore and expand my professional and personal horizons through a comprehensive internship programme. The MasterCard Scholarship has given me the push and the strength to wholeheartedly pursue my dreams and for this I am truly grateful."

Presthysa Nagitha Lestari said, “This scholarship has a very personal impact on me. It makes me feel highly valued and appreciated, which will drive me to always bring out the best in myself. This opportunity has given a boost to my self-confidence and self-appreciation, and certainly spurs me on to achieve my goals.”

Bhavya Sharma said, “I feel honoured and grateful to have received the prestigious MasterCard MBA Scholarship for Women. Such grants empower aspiring women business leaders like me to achieve our academic and professional goals. I am motivated to continue with my humble contributions to the community at large and would also like to encourage women leaders to value both business success and social responsibility.”

Georgette Tan, group head, Communications, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard, said, “The MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women is part of MasterCard’s broader commitment to women’s advancement and we are delighted to see the keen competition that the scholarship receives every year. We believe that empowering these women to continue to pursue academic and professional brilliance while continuing to make a difference in their communities will develop them to be great role models for their peers, families and society.”

MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women 2014 Recipients

(From left) SMU students Presthysa Nagitha Lestari, Bhavya Sharma and Tarini Kumar awarded the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women 2014

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Media contacts

Georgette Tan, MasterCard Worldwide, +65 6390 5971, georgette_tan [at] mastercard.com

Samantha Yong, Weber Shandwick, +65 6825 8053, samyong [at] webershandwick.com

Huang Peiling, Singapore Management University, +65 6828 0964, plhuang [at] smu.edu.sg