Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Corvallis: Local organization seeks scholarship recipients


There’s much to consider when making decisions about college; where to go, what to study, how to pay for it. With local options for a community college or a university, Benton and Linn County students can at least get help with one of these decisions. The Zonta Club of Corvallis is seeking awardees for their annual scholarship giveaway.

Zonta International, devoted to empowering women and improving their lives through service and advocacy, was founded in 1919. Zonta is now in 67 countries and works closely with the United Nations to influence laws impacting women worldwide. The Corvallis Club holds an auction each year to raise money for the club’s scholarship fund.

The most recent event, held in November 2016, featured a silent and oral auction for the benefit of the Zonta Service Foundation. With 250 community members in attendance, the event raised $34,000 for Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University students.

One of 2016’s recipients, Vanessa Reid, an OSU interior design and sustainability student, spoke at the event about the impact the scholarship had on her and her family.

“Her comments on going to college full-time while raising four children inspired many that night to donate to the scholarship fund,” said Debrah Rarick, Zonta scholarship chair.

Reid was one of 13 local students last year to receive a Zonta scholarship for $3,000. This year, Zonta is seeking at least another 10 recipients. Their mission to support students who will in turn support their community is one of the club’s primary focuses, says Sally Widenmann, dean of instruction at LBCC and member of Zonta scholarship committee.

“Although Zonta is an international organization that focuses on the empowerment of women, it starts local and spreads nationally,” said Widenmann. “So when you compare that to the vision of LBCC it aligns perfectly for both entities making them quite similar in that way.”

Scholarships are not exclusive to females, however, the recipients must be entering a career in which women are the minority, or for those that plan to dedicate their careers to helping women and/or children.

Scholarships available give no preference to which of the two schools one attends and can be used for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Specific scholarships include those for women in business, women in the Armed Forces, and women in S.T.E.M. Preferences include merit, financial need, older-than-average students, and student-parents.

The Starns Scholarship is one of particular interest in which Zonta hopes to find a recipient this year. Designated for a single parent, Rarick said they have not had any applicants for the past few years.

“We’d love to give it to a worthy recipient,” she said.

Deadlines, depending on the scholarship, are April 5 and 29. Each scholarship has varying criteria that can be found on their website, zontacorvallis.org.

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