Zonta Supports Women’s Education

Zonta is dedicated to achieving gender equality in education and supports scholarships, fellowships and awards for women and girls. The global impact of Zonta is enormous, particularly through education. No Zonta activity epitomizes the mission more than the awarding of scholarships and fellowships.

The longest existing Zonta International service project is the Amelia Earhart Fellowship which was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is important to the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley for a number of reasons. We are deeply proud to have two club members who are past Fellows, Dr. Sharon Langenbeck, and Dr. Colleen Marrese-Reading. The fellowship recognizes women who are pursuing advanced education in the fields of aerospace science. Currently and globally, women make up only around 25 percent of the workforce in the aerospace industry.

Zonta also offers the Young Women in Public Affairs Scholarship which seeks to recognize young women, ages 16-19 for their demonstration of leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes. Clubs such as the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley select a local recipient. The winner is sent on to a District competition, and if successful there, she is sent on to Zonta International for a global competition.

Zonta Club of SCV also has its own scholarship program, the Virginia Wrage Memorial Fund Scholarship which is named for the late Zontian whose life story suggested its purpose: to support women in the middle of their life who are met with a serious personal crisis and must retrain or return to college in order to qualify for a new occupation.

For more information about Zonta Club of SCV’s grants & scholarships, please visit: www.scvzonta.org/grants-and-scholarships/