HLR Scholarship Enters Years Two

The Helen Lansdowne Resor (HLR) Scholarship, a pioneering international opportunity designed to support and promote talented, creative, female advertising students, is embarking on its second year.

Named after Helen Lansdowne Resor, the industry’s and J. Walter Thompson’s first female copywriter, the HLR Scholarship aims to support young women of diverse backgrounds from around the world who aspire to join the creative ranks. The scholarship hopes to address a major challenge for the global industry, where women, who make up 46.4% of the advertising industry, comprise just 11% of the creative directors in the U.S. (3% Conference, 2014) and 14% globally (The Advertising Society, 2014).

Last year’s scholarship recipient group, across South Asia, North America, MEA, LATAM and Europe, included students from Miami Ad School Europe, Pratt Institute and the American University of Sharjah.

The HLR Scholarship will award five individual scholarships up to $10,000. Additionally, each HLR Scholarship recipient will receive a paid summer internship with a J. Walter Thompson office in her respective region, a J. Walter Thompson mentor and a “first look” placement consideration upon graduation.

Helen Lansdowne Resor began her pioneering half-century-long career with J. Walter Thompson in 1908, and quickly became a guidepost to female creatives of her generation as a champion for the advancement of women’s rights both inside and outside the agency. During her tenure, J. Walter Thompson was known as the “Women’s Agency,” where bright young female talents had a chance to succeed. As a brilliant creative, working mother and icon in advancing women’s rights, she overcame significant cultural barriers as a true pioneer. She is also credited with some of the industry’s most innovative historical advertising, including the use of celebrity testimonials through endorsements from socialites, European royalty and other well-known women in her work for Pond’s Cold Cream.

Established in partnership with the 4A’s during the agency’s 150th anniversary in 2014, the HLR Scholarship has been promoted at leading industry events such as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Spikes Asia and Advertising Week in New York City. It has also received widespread international media attention from The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Campaign India and more.

The scholarship is open to eligible students from select schools globally. Find the list of eligible schools here.

Applications must be submitted here by May 15, 2016.

For more information, please visit jwt.com/hlrscholarship and contact hlrscholarship@jwt.com with any queries.