Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship

Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. The Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship encourages women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in STEM fields. 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.

The Zonta Club of Oak Brook recipient receives US$1500. A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 districts and one region will receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International.

Timetable

• Applications must be received by Zonta Club of Oak Brook…………………………………… June 9,2023
• Club recipient is selected and application is received by District 6 representative……………July 1, 2023
• District applicant selected and application received by ZI Headquarters……………. September 15,2023
• Official announcement of international recipients…………………………………………………..November

Who is eligible?

• Women of any age and nationality, pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree program 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.
• Applicants for the 2023 Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship may not also apply for the 2023 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.
• Applicants from geographic areas within a Zonta district/region where no clubs are located will be considered and are eligible to apply for the international scholarships via a Zonta district/region.

What are the requirements?
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Applicant is required to qualify what her field of study is under STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Designated Degree Program List can be used to determine if your field of study is eligible: ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stem-list.pdf.
• 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 verification of current enrollment must be submitted with the application. Note that acceptance letters are not verification of enrollment and will not be accepted.
• Demonstrate a superior academic record at a recognized university or college with accredited courses in STEM studies as verified by official transcripts and recommendation letters.
• Applicant must be enrolled in a STEM degree program by 15 September 2023 and must not graduate before April 2024.

How do I apply?
Note that all application materials must be completed in English and received at the Zonta club by the deadline printed on the application. Only typed applications will be accepted and considered. The following documents are to be submitted in the application package. Application forms can be downloaded from the Zonta Club of Oak Brook’s website: http://zontadistrict6.org/oakbrook/ and must include:

• One recommendation from a faculty member in the major field of study.
• One recommendation from an employer, volunteer supervisor, or academic adviser. (Club members and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women are not eligible to write recommendation letters for applicants.)
• Essay of 500 words or less that clearly describes your academic and professional goals and demonstrates how your program of study is directly related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics and your initiative, ambition and commitment to pursuing a career in STEM. (Essays exceeding 500 words will not be considered.)
• Zonta International Verification of Current Enrollment form (see page 7 of application), or an official statement from the university/college registrar stating enrollment and graduation information. Candidates for the international scholarships may be asked to submit their most recent academic results for consideration.
• List and include official detailed transcripts of grades or equivalent records from all universities, colleges, or institutions attended, including undergraduate institutions and degrees received. In programs where graduate transcripts are not provided as a matter of institutional policy, please provide an official statement of that policy from the registrar or other school official. Do not submit unofficial transcripts as they will not be accepted.
• Applicants from geographic areas within a Zonta district/region where no clubs are located may apply via a Zonta e-club or directly to the district/region to be eligible for the international scholarships. All application materials must be received at the Zonta club by the deadline printed on the application. Please note that applicants may not apply to more than one Zonta district.
• Information other than official transcripts and recommendations must be limited to the space provided; attachments, articles, pamphlets, books, curriculum vitae or other publications are not requested and will not be considered.
• Applications that are incomplete or late, due to transmittal by third parties, or other circumstances will not be considered. Applications are accepted by email or regular mail; however, email submissions are preferred. Applications submitted by email must be signed and sent as a PDF.

For more information:

• 2023 application: http://zontadistrict6.org/oakbrook/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Zonta-Club-of-Oak-Brook-2023-STEM-Scholarship-Application-FINAL.pdf
• 2023 Oak Brook Scholarship Description: http://zontadistrict6.org/oakbrook/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Women-in-STEM-Scholarship-Oak-Brook-Club-Description.pdf
• Contact Kathy Raker at STEMOakBrook@gmail.com with additional questions