Among 850 people at a national conference, Kogod students stood out.

Their work for the American Heart Association, partnership with DC women’s technology groups, and even intimate faculty brunches all helped the Kogod Women in Business (KWIB) club shine above other student groups at the National Association of Women MBAs' (NAWMBA) annual conference in October.

NAWMBA named the all-female group of 50 Kogod graduate students the 2014 Student Chapter of the Year. Dedicated to women's career success, NAWMBA evaluated club membership, activities, and communication with its national organization to determine the winning chapter.

KWIB Co-president Lisa Andrusyszyn, MBA '15, appreciated recognition on a national stage, especially because Kogod offers the most valuable MBA for women in Washington, D.C. Forty percent of students in Kogod's two MBA programs are women, more than any other business school in the District.

"[NAWMBA] has a lot of resources and a huge network, and I think we didn't quite realize how intense that was until the conference," Andrusyszyn said.

For Assistant Dean for Digital Initiatives and New Programs Jill Klein, faculty advisor for KWIB, the national award just validates the club's exceptional work.

"There continue to be challenges for women as they move into the workforce, and I think the club is doing great things," Klein said. "They advocate well for women across Kogod."

The NAWMBA conference's location in Arlington, Virginia provided an opportunity for KWIB to engage with NAWMBA and Kogod on a broader level. Klein felt that the "biggest win" for club advocacy was convincing Kogod to sponsor the NAWMBA conference.

KWIB leaders presented their proposal for why Kogod should co-sponsor NAWMBA's conference to the Kogod Center for Career Development. As a sponsor, Kogod received conference tickets and NAWMBA memberships for students and staff, and the school also facilitated a conference session on resume and cover letter writing.

"Even though I did not get to attend the full conference, the short time I was there I got a lot of networking in," said KWIB Co-President Lauren Tyburski, MEd '14/MBA '15. "Everyone had a common goal and was trying to help each other make connections and help people get to where they're trying to go."

When applying for MBA programs, Andrusyszyn liked Kogod's location in the nation's capital, but it was the ambitious students who really helped her make up her mind.

"Out of the people I spoke with, I was most impressed with the students here compared to other schools." Andrusyszyn said. "I like the attitude of the people here much better."

Last February, 100 people attended the club's fourth-annual Red Dress benefit, raising awareness for heart disease as the number one killer of women in the U.S. This year, KWIB wants to invite more people in the community to the fundraiser.

KWIB members have already begun planning the next Red Dress event for Friday, Jan. 30, 2015. Though past benefits were only open to Kogod faculty and students, this year's tickets will be available to anyone who's interested. To learn more about tickets for the event, email KWIB at kwib.info@gmail.com.