EDUCATION

AMELIA EARHART FELLOWSHIP

FELLOWSHIP DESCRIPTION

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 1,638 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$10.6 million, to 1,209 women representing 73 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.

Eligibility

Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences are eligible. It is imperative that students be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program and have completed at least one year of that program or have received a master’s degree in an aerospace-applied field at the time the application is submitted. Applicants must not graduate from their Ph.D. or doctoral program before April 2028. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship.

Application process

The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee reviews the applications and recommends recipients to the Zonta International Board. All applicants are evaluated on the criteria stated in the requirements section of the application. All details of the evaluations are kept confidential; evaluations are not disclosed to applicants. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April.

Deadline

The 2027 Amelia Earhart Fellowship application must be submitted in full by 15 November 2026 to be considered.

Click here for more information and ontact d15ameliacoord@zonta15.org with any questions.

ZONTA YOUNG WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AWARD

Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award (formerly the Young Women in Public Affairs Award) 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.

The program operates at the Zonta club, district and international levels. Zonta International offers 37 international awards of US$5,000. Each district may submit one applicant for consideration for an international scholarship.

The application process starts with a Zonta club. For the upcoming year, women who are eligible to apply will be 16-19 on April 1^st, live in a Zonta district/region, be citizens of a Zonta country and demonstrate evidence of the following:

Active commitment to volunteerism.
Experience in local government, student government, or workplace leadership (paid or unpaid).
Volunteer leadership achievements.
Knowledge of Zonta International and its programs.
Support in Zonta International’s mission of building a better world for women and girls.

The entire Completed Application package should be sent to the club coordinator. The clubs will send on the winning application package to the District 15 Award Coordinator, no later than March 14. Click for details and to application or contact the club in your local area. Contact d15ywpa@zonta15.org with any questions.

Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award – Now Accepting Applications for 2027

Encouraging women to drive innovation and impact in the business world.

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. Women hold nearly 34% of committee chairs in the S&P 500 and 31% of director seats, as of March 2023. Only 8.2% of S&P 500 company CEOs are women.

The Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award acknowledges and celebrates women who demonstrate exceptional leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, ethical conduct and make significant contributions to their respective industries while addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice.

Zonta International offers 10 international awards of US$5,000 each and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the next financial year.

ELIGIBILITY

Women, aged 18-35 at the time of application, who demonstrate evidence of the following, are eligible to apply.

Exceptional leadership in a business-related field of study or industry.
Entrepreneurial spirit.
Ethical conduct.
Significant contributions to addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must locate a Zonta club near them by using the Club Locator at zonta.org/locateaclub to receive the deadline and an address to submit application to, or for assistance, email your name and contact information to Zonta International Headquarters at programs@zonta.org. Note that applications must be submitted to a Zonta club or district in the language(s) accepted by the club or district by the deadline printed on the application. Only typed applications will be accepted and considered.

Applicant must apply through their local club, and each club sets their own deadline. Club winners are due to District 15 by November 15. Click for details and to application or contact the club in your local area.

Contact d15jmkcoord@zonta15.org with any questions.

Zonta Women in Stem Award

Encouraging women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in STEM fields

AWARD DESCRIPTION

The Zonta Women in STEM Award celebrates and supports women leaders who are making meaningful contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Through this award, Zonta International seeks to support the next generation of women STEM leaders and encourage greater participation and leadership by women in STEM.

Zonta International annually offers 16 international awards of US$5,000 each, along with a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the following financial year.

ELIGIBILITY

Women who demonstrate groundbreaking research, pioneering discoveries, and/or exemplary contributions to advancing knowledge and innovation in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) field of study are eligible to apply. Applicants are eligible if they are currently in their second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a graduate program. The Designated Degree Program List provides a comprehensive reference of STEM fields and is used to support consistent eligibility determinations for applicants worldwide: Full list of STEM fields recognized internationally.

Previous Zonta Women in STEM Awardees are not eligible to apply to renew the Award for a second year. Club members and individuals with direct membership with Zonta International and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women are not eligible to apply for the awards.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must locate a Zonta club near them using the Club Locator to obtain the application deadline and submission address. If you need assistance locating a club, email your name and contact information to Zonta International Headquarters at programs@zonta.org. Applications must be submitted in English for evaluation by the Zonta International Women in STEM Award Jury. Committee or jury members or any member involved in the selection process should follow the Zonta International Conflict of Interest Policy in the selection of awardees.

Note that applicants from geographic areas within a Zonta district where no clubs are located may apply via a Zonta e-Club or directly to the district to be eligible for the international awards.

Applicant must apply through their local club, and each club sets their own deadline. Club winners are due to District 15 by January 17, 2026. Click here for details and the application and contact d15wtsc@zonta15.org with any questions.