KU School of Business gift creates scholarships for former Summer Venture in Business participants

LAWRENCE – A gift from University of Kansas alumna Rebecca Lyons will provide scholarships for School of Business students who have participated in its Summer Venture in Business program. 

The program invites high school students who are underrepresented and/or potential first-generation college students to KU’s Lawrence campus to explore business topics and academic resources. The newly established scholarship fund will provide support to enrolled undergraduate KU Business students who participated in Summer Venture in Business. 

Lyons, who graduated from KU with an accounting degree, worked for more than 30 years with Johnson & Johnson (J&J). She started out in a finance role and over the years held positions including plant manager, call center manager and eventually became a vice president of supply chain operations. 

She also participated in J&J’s leadership development programs and, as she rose through the ranks, helped lead the Finance Leadership Development Program. Additionally Lyons led a global team that established the company’s Global Operations Leadership Development Program. She credits the mentorship and support she received from these programs with instilling in her a desire to help connect others to personal and professional development opportunities. That same mindset inspired her scholarship gift. 

“I hope that this scholarship will help give a leg up to deserving students,” Lyons said. “In addition to wanting to help underrepresented students, I appreciate knowing that there’s an infrastructure in place at the school for these students to receive guidance and support. In addition to wanting to help students pay their tuition, I want to see them be successful.” 

The school’s Impact Programs staff oversee the Summer Venture in Business, among other programs that provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to School of Business students. This summer marks the eighth time the school has offered the program. 

"This scholarship provides students who first connected with our school through the Summer Venture in Business program with a boost of support,” said Paige Fields, KU School of Business dean. “We are grateful for the assistance and encouragement this gift will provide in students’ pursuit of a KU business degree.” 

The scholarship covers the cost equivalent to in-state tuition for either one School of Business student with academic merit, or the amount can be divided among a few. Three students will receive support from the scholarship fund this fall. 

Lyons said she hopes her gift encourages others to consider giving back, whether through financial support, mentoring or other engagement opportunities. 

“It's not for me to say how or when people give back, but I hope that the people who have an opportunity to do so will in some way,” she said. “My gift is a result of me having received opportunities and mentorship, and I hope it helps perpetuate a cycle of giving.”