If you should have questions about any of the scholarships offered below, please contact us:
* here
* presidentsanduskyzonta@gmail.com
* Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky, P.O. Box 1222, Sandusky 44871-1222
Awards & Scholarships available through Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky, Zonta International District 5 and Zonta International. You will find applications and additional award information posted below these short descriptions.
- In coordination with Zonta International and Zonta International District 5, Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky provides a Young Women in Leadership Award – formerly the Young Women in Public Affairs Award. Recipient must reside in Erie, Huron or Ottawa County, Ohio, studying at a secondary school, college or university. The recipient of the local club’s award is then submitted to the District for consideration for the District award with the recipient of the District award then submitted for consideration for one of 37 international awards. The award amounts available: Club Award – $250.00; Zonta International Awards – $5,000.00 each.
- DEADLINE: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 | OPEN | APPLICATION & FORMS BELOW
- Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky awards up to four college scholarships – $1,000.00 each – each year to Erie, Huron and Ottawa County, Ohio, high school female seniors planning to major in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) education or various fields of medicine who meet high academic standards.
- DEADLINE: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025 | OPEN | APPLICATION & FORMS BELOW
- Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky awards a non-traditional adult woman returning to an accredited school to improve and/or advance her education towards a better career. The Non-Traditional Scholarship is for any woman who is minimum 23 years of age and resides in Erie, Huron, Ottawa or Sandusky counties in Ohio.
- DEADLINE: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025 | APPLICATION & FORMS BELOW
- In coordination with Zonta International and Zonta International District 5, Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky provides scholarships for young women going into the business field – Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award (formerly the 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. 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$10,000 each and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the next financial year.
- DEADLINE: MUST BE RECEIVED BY ZONTA INTERNATIONAL NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025 | APPLICATION & FORMS BELOW
- 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 30 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 inception of the program in 1938, there have been 1,734 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$11.6 million, given to 1,305 women from 77 countries.
- DEADLINE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | CLOSED
- In coordination with Zonta International and Zonta International District 5, Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky will offer the Women in STEM Scholarship. Women of any age, pursuing a program in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) at an accredited university/college/institute, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region, are eligible. Online students are also eligible to apply if enrolled at an accredited university/college/institute. Students must be enrolled in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master’s program at the time the application is submitted to the local Zonta club. A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 districts and one region will receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International.
- DEADLINE: 2025 | INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME | PENDING
2025 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.
Established in 1990 by Past International President Leneen Forde, Zonta has given 1,128 awards, totaling US$1,673,750 to 956 young women from 61 countries.
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 five largest districts may submit a second applicant for a total of two applicants.
2025 – Application Description – Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award
2025 – Application – Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award
2025 – Poster – Young Women in Leadership
DEADLINE: SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 | OPEN
2024 Club-level Award Recipient:
Hannah G. Kearns – Bellevue High School
Miss Hannah G. Kearns, daughter of Jennifer Reed of Bellevue, a Senior at Bellevue High School. The goal of the YWPA award program is to encourage more young women to participate in public affairs by recognizing the student’s commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements and a dedication to empowering women and girls worldwide through service and advocacy. This award is presented to a young woman living in Erie, Huron or Ottawa Counties. As the recipient of the Club YWPA Award of $250.00, Hannah is eligible for the District 5 YWPA Award of $1,500.00 with the District recipient then eligible for ten Zonta International YWPA Awards of $5,000.00 each. Established in 1990, Zonta International has provided Zonta has given 1,091 awards, US$1,488,750, to 919 young women from 61 countries. Hannah has committed to attending University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, majoring in Criminal Psychology with a goal of achieving her PhD. Her achievements and leadership roles include Honor Roll; College Credit Plus Courses; Key Club; Spanish Club; Art Club; Student Council; Freshman Breakfast Guest Speaker; Leadership/Community Engagement Class; RSVP Club; Senior Mentor. Hannah’s volunteer experiences include The Willows; United Service Organizations Ohio and Salute Our Soldiers Campaign; Humane Society Community Pet Donation Drive Organizer; Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign; St. Mary’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Congratulations Hannah!
2025 High School Scholarships
To be consistent with Zonta’s goals, the high school scholarships
are awarded to graduating seniors – young women –
who will be attending a college or university majoring
in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field
or in various fields of medicine.
Application – 2024-2025 – High School Scholarship – FINAL
Poster – 2024-2025 – High School Scholarship – FINAL
DEADLINE: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025 | OPEN
2024 High School Scholarship Recipients:
Eighteen applications were received from students attending Margaretta, Norwalk, Oak Harbor, Perkins, Port Clinton, St. Mary’s Central Catholic, St. Paul, Sandusky and Vermilion High Schools. Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky is pleased to announce the following students as recipients of the club’s 2024 High School Scholarships in the amount of $1,000.00 each. The monetary award along with a Certificate of Recognition will be presented to the recipients during Zonta’s Award & Scholarships and Spring Banquet in May.
Miss Nora B. Bodie, daughter of Michelle and David Bodie of Port Clinton, a Senior at Port Clinton High School. Nora’s honors while attending
PCHS include Redskin Award 2022 & 2023; Volleyball Season Serving % School Record 2021 & 2022; Volleyball Season Attacking % School Record 2022 & 2023; Volleyball Career Serving % School Record (2023); Volleyball Career Attacking % 2023; Principal’s List 2023-2024; Sandusky Bay Conference All Academic Student Recognition 2020-2024; OASL All Ohio Student Leader 2023; American Legion Department of Ohio Americanism Certificate; 2022 HOBY Delegate Recognition; Leadership Council; Future Professionals in Medicine; International Club; Varsity Swimming & Volleyball; District Leadership Team; Envirothon; Student Representative to the Board of Education; National Honor Society. Nora plans to attend University of Michigan majoring in Biology – pre-medicine. Congratulations Nora!
Miss Megan E. Evans, daughter of Jamie and Stephen Evans of Sandusky, a Senior at St. Mary Central Catholic High 
School. Megan’s honors while attending SMCCHS include 3-time Barbara A. McCafferty M.D. Math and Science Award; Beverly Vaith Scholarship; Eucharistic Revival Essay Contest place winner; Rotary Student of the Month; American Legion Americanism Test top scorer; academic letter; Buckeye Girls State; Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership; Providence Care Center volunteer; National Honor Society; Team Leadership Corps; Key Club; School Musical; Swim and Tennis Teams; Lead Like A Panther; NASA Glenn Research Center High School Shadowing program; IMPCT Leadership Mentor. Megan plans to attend Bowling Green State University – Honors Program, majoring in Computer Science/Information Systems. Congratulations Megan!
Miss Avviana Isabella Geiger Pickle, daughter of Cynthia Geiger of Sandusky, a Senior at Margaretta High School. Avviana’s honors while attending MHS include Honor Roll 2020-2024; 2-time academic letter; 2 time varsity letter for
golf; most improved award in JV softball; 1st place 4-County Art show twice; best score on the American Legion Government Test; Improved Leader Award for impact leadership; 1st place at Erie County Fair and Outstanding at Ohio State Fair in 4H; Outstanding student in Art I and Art IV; 2-time SBC All-Academic for golf; Golf and Tennis Teams; SADD; Volunteer at Flat Rock Homes, Project Share and Faben’s Park Baseball Tournaments; National Honor Society; Student Government; Varsity M Club; Prom Committee; Leadership Class; and Chick-fil-a Leader Academy. Avviana plans to attend The Ohio State University, majoring in Political Science. Congratulations Avviana!
Miss Abigail G. Schoder, daughter of Christina and Matthew Schoder of Sandusky, a Senior at Sandusky High School. 
Abigail’s honors while attending SHS include National Hispanic Scholar 2023; Buckeye Student Leadership Academy at The Ohio State University 2023 Cohort Member; Youth Group Student Leader 2022-Present; Youth Group Worship Team Leader 2023; Church Media Team 2022-Present; Varsity Tennis 2020-2021-2023; Co-Captain 2023; SBC 2nd Singles Honorable Mention Girls Varsity Tennis 2023; Sandusky Rotary Club October Student of the Month 2023); Owner of Baking Business – The Happy Baking Company; Owner of blog – Chronically Abs 2023-Present; Ohio Model United Nations 2016 thru 2023; Great Lakes Visual and Performing Arts Academy at SHS 2020-present; Unified Student of SHS; Advanced Competition Team dancer at Karshas All That Jazz Dance Academy; A Capella Choir Secretary 2022-2023 and Choir Social Chair 2023-2024; Keynotes and Bell Choir 2022-2023; Gospel choir 2020-2022. Abigail plans to attend The Ohio State University, majoring in Secondary Education Integrated Social Studies. Congratulations to Abigail!
2025 Zonta Women in
Business Leadership Award
(Formerly the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship)
Application must be received by Zonta International no later than
DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
Application & Information to be posted soon
2024 – Jane MKlausman in Business – Scholars
2024 – JMK Scholarship – Past Scholars School List
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$10,000 each and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the next financial year.
2025 Amelia Earhart Fellowship
DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024
2024 – AE – Poster
2024 – AE Fellowship – Application – (For Preparation Only)
NOTE: The above application form is for preparation only.
Applicant must submit all materials via
the online application found here.
Hard copy or e-mailed applications submitted will not be accepted.
2024 – AE Fellowship – Stats Program Overview
2024 – AE Fellows – School List
2024 – AE Fellowship – Map
2023 Amelia Earhart Fellows – List
2023 Amelia Earhart Fellows’ Bios | PDF
30 Fellows Country of Citizenship:
Australia, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka,
United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay
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 30 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 inception of the program in 1938, there have been 1,734 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totaling more than US$11.6 million, given to 1,305 women from 77 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. The Amelia Earhart Fellowships expands opportunities for women in aerospace engineering and space sciences.
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 2025. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship. Club members and individuals with direct membership with Zonta International and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women, and their family members (ancestors, descendants, adoptees, siblings, nieces or cousins, and those of their spouse or co-habiting partner), are not eligible to apply for the Fellowship. Note that previous Amelia Earhart Fellows are not eligible to apply to renew the Fellowship for a second year.
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications must be completed in English and submitted using the online application form at https://zontainternational.awardspring.com/. You may use the Amelia Earhart Fellowship document in PDF for preparation purposes only. 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 2025.
DEADLINE
The 2023 Amelia Earhart Fellowship application is now available – see links above. DEADLINE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024
2024 Zonta International Women
in STEM Scholarship
Application information for the 2024 Women in STEM Scholarship
will be posted as soon as available.
In 2019 and 2021, Zonta International was pleased to support the Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarships to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in information technology. In June 2022, the Zonta International membership voted to continue the program with an expanded focus on all STEM fields, not only technology. With this change, the Zonta International Board approved a name change and will offer the Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship for the third cycle of the scholarship program.
The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Each Zonta district/region may submit one applicant for consideration for an international scholarship. A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 districts and one region will receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International.
2024 – Women in STEM Scholarship – Poster – PENDING
2024 – Women in STEM Scholarship – Description – PENDING
2024 – Women in STEM Scholarship – Application – PENDING
ELIGIBILITY:
Women of any age, pursuing a program in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) at an accredited university/college/institute, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region, are eligible. Online students are also eligible to apply if enrolled at an accredited university/college/institute.
Students must be enrolled in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master’s program at the time the application is submitted to the local Zonta club. Applicants must be in school at the time the scholarship funds are disbursed and must not graduate before April 2024. Previous district and international Women in Technology Scholarship recipients may not apply for the Women in STEM Scholarship.
Club members and individuals with direct membership with Zonta International and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women, and their family members (ancestors, descendants, adoptees, siblings, nieces or cousins, and those of their spouse or co-habiting partner), are not eligible to apply for the Scholarship.
Golden Z club members are eligible to apply.
2024-2025 Non-Traditional Student Scholarship
2024-2025 – Non-Traditional Scholarship – Poster – FINAL
2024-2025 – Non-Traditional Scholarship – Complete Application
NOTE: The complete application includes:
2024-2025 – Non-Traditional Scholarship – Application Form
2024-2025 – Non-Traditional – Verification Current Enrollment – Form
2024-2025 – Non-Traditional Scholarship – Recommendation Letter – Cover Sheet – Submit 2
DEADLINE: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025
2022-2023 Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Recipient
Sela Berry – Norwalk
Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing
ELIGIBILITY: The Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky Non-Traditional Student Scholarship is awarded to a
female student from Erie, Huron, Ottawa or Sandusky Counties in Ohio returning to
the classroom after some period of time in which her formal education was interrupted.
The female student must be enrolled in a 2-4 year undergraduate degree program
at a state or federal licensed college/university or vocational school.
Minimum age to apply for scholarship is 23 years.
The Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky is pleased to announce Ms. Sela Berry, a 3rd-year student at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing, Sandusky, Ohio, as the recipient for the 2022-2023 Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky Non-Traditional Scholarship in the amount of $2,000.00. Ms. Berry lives in Norwalk.
Ms. Berry has an expected graduation date of May 2024. She will be a Registered Nurse upon completing the 3-year RN program and passing her NCLEX. Ms. Berry has returned to school to pursue her passion for Nursing. She looks forward to the challenges and “opportunities to change lives every day.” During her schooling at FRMCSON through BGSU Firelands, she has been honored on the Dean’s List. She has been active as a volunteer in various community events including Holly Run, at Firelands and Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital and currently works at Chef’s Garden, Huron. Upon completing her formal education, Ms. Berry plans to work locally as an RN, pursuing her dream to lead nursing teams and to possibly lead an organization as a nurse leader.
Visit here to read the news release. Congratulations Sela!
Buckeye Girls State
We support a local representative of Buckeye Girls State each year.
Donating Time, Funds and Support
Safe Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter
Stein Hospice Camp Good Grief
Kendra’s House
Heartbeat
Buddy Benches for local schools