Today, women remain a distinct minority in science and engineering, representing approximately 10 percent of professionals in these fields. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship program helps talented women, pursuing advanced studies in the typically male-dominated fields of aerospace-related sciences and engineering, achieve their educational goals.

The Fellowship enables these women to invest in state-of-the-art computers to conduct their research, purchase expensive books and resource materials, and participate in specialized studies around the globe.

Amelia Earhart 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 award was established in 1998 from a generous bequest by Jane M. Klausman, a member of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, USA.

Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied; however, today, women are still more likely to be pouring the coffee in global boardrooms than sitting on the boards. In 2011, women held only 16.1% of the board seats at Fortune 500 companies according to the 2011 Catalyst Census.

The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program helps women pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the boardroom.

Since the program’s inception, Zonta has awarded 314 scholarships to women from 44 countries

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 just 19.5 percent of seats in the world’s national parliaments as of 31 December 2011, 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 637 awards to 565 young women from 50 countries

The Emma L. Conlon Service Award recognizes those Z and Golden Z clubs whose projects and programs best express the ideals of Zonta International to empower women through local and international service and advocacy. The awards, named in honor of Past International President Emma L. Conlon, who graciously underwrote the awards, were established in 1962 at the Zonta International Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

First, second and third place awards are given to both Z and Golden Z clubs. First place clubs receive US$1,000; second place clubs receive US$500; and third place clubs receive US$250. Note that an additional award of US$250 will be awarded to one Z club and one Golden Z club that have been chartered for less than two years. The award money is to be used for the clubs’ service projects.

Eligibility

Z and Golden Z clubs must submit one service project in any of the three categories listed below.

• School Service
• Community Service
• International Service

Application Process

Z and Golden Z club members will submit their applications, which include the signature of their sponsoring Zonta club president, to Zonta International Headquarters. The Zonta International Z and Golden Z Club Committee recommends eight recipients (4 Z clubs and 4 Golden Z clubs) to the Zonta International Board for approval in June.

2018 Deadline

All application materials must be received by 30 April 2018. Applications that are incomplete or late due to postal delays, transmittal by third parties, or other circumstances will not be considered. Submit a completed application to:

Zonta International Headquarters
Attn: Martina Gamboa, Programs Senior Coordinator
1211 West 22nd Street, Suite 900
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

or via email to programs@zonta.org