Young women in public affairs award
Though about 40 percent of the world’s workforce is women, according to data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, only 24.9% of all national parliamentarians were female as of 1 January 2020. Because Zonta International believes that young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service, it offers the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award, which recognizes young women, ages 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes, and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life.
Established in 1990 by Past International President Leneen Forde, Zonta has given 971 awards, US$1,109,250, to 819 young women from 58 countries.
The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Zonta clubs provide awards for club recipients, and district/region and international awards are funded by the Zonta International Foundation. District recipients receive US$1,500, and 10 international recipients are selected from the district/region recipients to receive awards of US$5,000 each.
Jane M. Klausman
Women in Business Scholarship
Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied. However, they still comprise a minority of leaders in the business world. According to the 202 Gender Diversity Index conducted from 2011-2015, just 19.7 percent of Fortune 500 companies’ board seats are occupied by women.
Because Zonta International believes in gender equality, the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program helps women pursue undergraduate and master's degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the boardroom. The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship was established in 1998 from a generous bequest by Jane M. Klausman, a member of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, USA, and the 1990-1995 Zonta International Parliamentarian.
The program operates at the Zonta Club, district/region and international levels. Zonta annually awards up to 32 scholarships of US$1,000 each at the district/region level and 12 international scholarships in the amount of US$7,000 each.
Completed 2020 applications must be presented to the Zonta Club of Defiance by July 15, 2020.
A club recipient will be selected and the application will be presented to Zonta International District 5 by August 15,2020.
The district/region recipient is selected, and the application is presented to Zonta International Headquarters by October 15, 2020.
International recipients will be contacted by their Zonta club leader by January, 2021. Applications and questions should be sent to info@zontadefiance.com
Amelia earhart fellowship
Globally, women make up less than 30 percent of the workforce in physics, computer sciences and engineering, according to U.S. News & World Report. In an effort to carry out its mission that women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men, Zonta International offers the Amelia Earhart Fellowship.
The Amelia Earhart Fellowship was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The US$10,000 Fellowship is awarded annually to 30 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering. It may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
Since the program’s inception in 1938, Zonta has awarded 1,543 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$9.7 million, to 1,114 women representing 72 countries.
Our Fellows have gone on to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, geologists, business owners, heads of companies, even Secretary of the US Air Force.
Learn more about the Amelia Earhart Fellowship!
