Building a better world for women and girls.

Scholarships

Zonta International helps women overcome gender barriers to careers in traditionally male-dominated fields through the Amelia Earhart Fellowships and additional scholarship programs.

Gender inequality in education, however, begins much earlier in life than PhD programs. That is why the Zonta Club of Anchorage started ZClubs at Dimond and East High Schools in 1968 when girls were not allowed to participate in afterschool activities. Our Dimond ZClub remain active today and have expanded to include male members.

Scholarships include:

Amelia Earhart Fellowship

Globally, women make up around 25 percent of the workforce in the aerospace industry. 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 up to 35 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. 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 1,674 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$11 million, to 1,245 women from 75 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. 

Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering are eligible. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship. Members and employees of Zonta International or the Zonta International Foundation are also not eligible to apply for the Fellowship. Current fellows may apply to renew the Fellowship for a second year and will undergo the same application and evaluation procedures as first-time applicants. Applicants must be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program when funds are received in September and will not graduate before April.

Amelia Earhart Fellowships are made possible by generous contributions to the Zonta International Foundation Amelia Earhart Fellowship Fund.

The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee reviews the applications and recommends recipients to the Zonta International Board of Directors. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April.

Applications for the Fellowships must be received or postmarked by November 15 to be considered. Applications that are incomplete or late due to postal delays will not be considered. For questions, please contact programs@zonta.org.

Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award

The YWPA is award on a district level and the international level. District recipients receive $1,000, and international recipients are selected from the district/region recipients to receive awards of $4,000 each.

The progress of women in the last century has dramatically increased the opportunities available to women, yet women’s participation in positions of public influence continues to lag behind. Although women account for nearly 50 percent of the workforce, they hold on average just 25 percent of seats in the world’s national parliaments as of September 2021, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Zonta International believes young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service. The Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Awards program recognizes young women for their demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. Since the program’s inception, Zonta has given 679 awards (includes international awards) totaling $548,750 to 597 young women from 51 countries.

Established in 1990 by Past International President Leneen Forde, the Young Women in Public Affairs Award honors young women of age 16 to 19, who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations. 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 $1,000, and ten international recipients are selected from the district/region recipients to receive awards of $4,000 each.

The application must start with a Zonta club. All application materials must be received at a Zonta club by the printed deadline. Zonta clubs select one application to send to the district governor/region representative. A district/region evaluating committee reviews the applications and selects one applicant per district/region to submit to Zonta International Headquarters. The Zonta International YWPA Award Committee recommends ten international recipients from the district/region applications to the Zonta International Board. After approval by the Zonta International Board, the Zonta International Foundation provides awards and certificates to the district/region, and international recipients.

Women of any nationality who are students of age 16-19 on 1 April each year, studying and living, or working in a Zonta district/region and who demonstrate evidence of the following are eligible to apply:

  • Active commitment to volunteerism
  • Experience in local or student government
  • Volunteer leadership achievements
  • Knowledge of Zonta International and its programs
  • Advocating in Zonta International’s mission of advancing the status of women worldwide         

Note that applicants from geographic areas where no clubs are located will be considered and also eligible for the District/Region Award. The Zonta Club of Anchorage is in District 8, which includes the entire state of Alaska.

Applications for the Young Women in Public Affairs Award must be received by the assigned deadline that is declared by the applicant’s local Zonta club. Recipients will be chosen by March 24.

Gail Green Scholarship

Every year the Zonta Club of Anchorage awards $1000 to an active Z Clubber in Anchorage. Initially funded by what was remaining in Gail’s bank account,  after her untimely, accidental death in a house fire.  Zonta Club of Anchorage has awarded over $52,000 to meritorious Anchorage Z Club seniors since 1978.

  • Applicant must be a current and active member of Z Club.
  • Applicant must be a graduating high school senior during January and/or June of the year in which the scholarship is to be awarded.
  • The recipient of the award must begin attendance at an accredited college, university, or approved trade school no later than the fall semester following the award of the scholarship.

The applicant must include the following information in the Application Packet:

  •  Completed Gail Green Scholarship Application cover sheet.
  • Letters of Recommendation:  (no more than 3.)  It is encouraged that one be from a community source outside school if possible.
  • Transcripts for grades 9-12.
  • Answers to short essay questions explaining how you or the community has benefited from your community service and the student declaration.
  • Cover sheet must be signed by current Z Club school staff sponsor.

Check back soon for PDF forms and additional information, or contact us.

Pearson College UWC

Started in 1974, Lester B. Pearson College is an internationally acclaimed two-year pre-university school with a student body of more than 200 students representing more than 100 nations. Their mission is to ‘make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’ and they believe this transformative education for students who live and learn together helps in developing their critical thinking, conflict resolution and leadership skills.

One of 12 schools of their kind, UWC or originally known as United World Colleges, had an interesting start. Lester B. Pearson was the winner of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize and was the driving force behind the creating of the school. Unfortunately, he died before the project was completed and the school was named in his honor.

The Zonta Club of Anchorage sponsors 12 students each year at Christmas time and provides little gifts and sweet treats to make the Holidays feel more special as they are far away from their families. We also donate to the Pearson College Foundation Scholarship Fund which provides much needed scholarship support for students who are selected based on their promise and potential.

Learn more about the Lester B. Pearson College at pearsoncollege.ca. Information about applying to the Lester B. Pearson College can be found here.

Virginia Augestad Memorial Scholarship

The Zonta Yellow Rose Foundation 501(c)(3) was founded in 2007 as the charitable giving device for the Zonta Club of Anchorage, founded in 1961. This scholarship was instituted to honor Virginia Augestad, a charter member of the club, who passed away in late 2015. Her years of service and devotion to women locally and worldwide continues to be an inspiration to the club.

The Virginia Augestad Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a woman each year based on her own individual merit and is not necessarily tied to academic achievement. The scholarship is $1,500.00 and will be sent by the foundation to the technical school, vocational school, community college, or accredited college of the winner’s choice.

Women 17 years of age or older, who reside in Alaska and have been separated from secondary education from at least a year or who are full or part time students at a vocational program, technical school, community college or four year degree program. Applicants will have received a high school diploma or GED.

Along with the completed application, applicants will provide an essay that explains why they are seeking the award and the applicant’s background or personal story, this essay should be no more than 200 words (please provide word count). In addition a statement of the applicant’s goals and where they see themselves in five years. This should be no more than 300 words, (please provide word count), and a final statement of how the applicant plans to “pay it forward” once goals are achieved as part of the community. This statement should be no longer than 150 words (please provide word count). All essay information will be kept strictly confidential and will only be available to the selection committee.

Complete application in English. Please note that only typed applications will be accepted and considered. Applications can be downloaded at zonta-ak.org and must include:

  • One personal reference.
  • One reference from an employer, volunteer supervisor or academic advisor. Members of the Zonta Club of Anchorage are not eligible to write recommendation letters for applicants.
  • An essay in 200 words or less that clearly describes why you are seeking the award, with some personal background, an essay in 300 words that describe your professional goals and what you plan to be doing in five years and an essay in 150 words that describes how you will make an impact on the community in the future.
  • Verification of enrollment in a technical school, community college, four year college or vocational school.

Applications can be mailed to Zonta Yellow Rose Foundation, PO Box 241305, Anchorage, AK 99524 or emailed to info@zonta-ak.org .  If sent by email, please print and sign application and send it as a PDF.

All application materials must be received by the Zonta Yellow Rose Foundation by March 31.