The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley awarded $16,000 in scholarships and awards at its annual Awards Celebration, held May 8, 2025 at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons.

The awards distributed through the scholarships and awards recognize recipients that exemplify and further Zonta’s vision of a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential; a world where women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men; and, a world where no woman lives in fear of violence.

On behalf of the Zonta Club of SCV, President Dr. Cherise Moore was honored to lead this event along with Mary Ann Dortch, Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Laurie Miller, Jen Abbot-Aston, and Nicole Miller presenting the awards to all recipients.  Over fifty Zontians, family, friends and supporters attended the Awards Celebration to honor and recognize the recipients.

Our Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award recognizes young women ages 16-19 demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes, and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. Three outstanding young women, Srindhi Srinivasasubbu, Nika Moosavi, Mahati Dharanipathi received this award for their exemplary leadership and public service work in the SCV community.

The Virginia Wrage Memorial Scholarship, recognizes women (aged 40 and older) in the Santa Clarita Valley community who have experienced a life-changing event and supports them to achieve independence and their goals. Four wonderful women, Rebecca Chinwuba, Lilly Hernandez, Karen Teufert, and Colleen Kubes received this memorial award in Virginia Wrage’s name, which was established to help women going through a challenging time, such as Virginia did, and honor Virginia’s memory as a member of our Zonta club.  We were honored to have Virginia’s son, Randy Wrage, at our event to speak about his mom.  Randy gave an emotional and heartfelt tribute to his mom, while sharing stories about the children and grandchildren of Virginia.  Giving these awards is a tribute to the 30-year legacy of Zonta giving these scholarships in memory of Virginia Wrage.

Our Jo Ann Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship was established to invest in women to help them achieve their educational goals with an academic focus around accounting. This scholarship was established in Jo Ann’s name, to honor her legacy in the SCV and as a Zonta leader.  Jo Ann left behind a legacy of encouraging women to achieve their full potential. Recognized for her abilities to bring out the best in others, Jo Ann’s talents and warm personality are memorialized through recipients of this scholarship.  In total this year through two rounds of recognition, six women, Ruth Mendez, Shay Anderson-Morgan, Monserrat Tolentino, Katerina Astardijieva, Nancy Mora, and Eunice Rivera received this scholarship to encourage their accounting studies and help them meet their educational goals.

The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley plans to continue to offer these scholarships and awards in the upcoming year.  Please check our website for 2025-2026 applications and deadlines.

For over 50 years, the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley has improved the lives of women and girls in our community and worldwide through our service projects, advocacy, education, and awareness campaigns.  We work to ensure that women have equal and fair access to expert resources and help.  We empower women of all ages to be the most authentic, powerful version of themselves and build a hopeful future.

Read more about Virginia Wrage Recipients

Read more about Young Women in Leadership Awards

Read more about Jo Ann Rodriguez Recipeints