The $250,000 international Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship will assist and promote talented female creative advertising students from around the world in honor of JWT’s (and the industry’s) first female copywriter, Helen Lansdowne Resor.
The industry as a whole is going backward when it comes to diversity and women. The advancement of women is a major cultural challenge, and JWT as one of the most pioneering (and one of the largest) global agencies has the ability to move the needle and change the paradigm going forward.
Helen was a brilliant creative whose capacity to think, create and innovate helped her push the barriers of advertising. She is credited with being the first to deploy sex appeal in advertising with iconic campaigns like Woodbury Soap’s “A skin you love to touch,” and sparking the celebrity testimonial industry with her use of endorsements from socialites, European royalty and other well-known women in her work for Pond’s Cold Cream.
She was a working mother and ardent feminist who championed the advancement of women’s rights both inside and outside of the agency. During her tenure, JWT was known as the “Women’s Agency,” where bright young female talents had a chance to succeed.
Helen was a true pioneer who helped push boundaries then — and now, with the creation of the scholarship in her memory.
The HLR Scholarship will award five individual $10,000 annual scholarships for a five-year program. Additionally, HLR Scholarship recipients will receive a paid summer internship between their junior and senior year at a JWT office in their respective region, a JWT mentor and a “first look” placement consideration upon graduation. The scholarship will open to applicants in Japan, China, India, the Middle East and North America.
All applications must be submitted to hlrscholarship@jwt.com by Wednesday, April 15, 2015.
For further details and application please visit the Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship / JWT Worldwide page.
