Local organization ready to award $35,000 in scholarships

Photo courtesy of creative commons.

Local organization readies to award nearly $35,000 in scholarships to Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University students. Deadlines approach in early April.

Each year, Zonta Club of Corvallis awards scholarships to OSU and LBCC students. An international organization that works to empower women through service and advocacy, Zonta has 67 clubs worldwide. 

“We want to support women in pursuing careers that help improve the status of women,” said Debrah Rarick, scholarship committee chair for Zonta of Corvallis. “And to help women pursue careers in non-traditional fields for women, particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields.” 

The hope, according to Rarick, is that the scholarships for a technical field of study will encourage women to enter the field and break down barriers, and that recipients will then serve as role models for women to also choose fields less populated with women.

“Giving scholarships is one way to show students that we believe in them and want to help them reach their goals,” said Rarick.

To raise the money for the scholarships, Zonta of Corvallis holds fundraisers throughout the year. The main event is the Zonta Auction and Dinner held each November. The event features auction items and the opportunity for attendees to give tax-deductible donations. 

From donations last year, this year at least seven $3,000 scholarships will be given to women pursuing careers in STEM fields. Other scholarships with specific criteria are the Starns, for a single parent attending LBCC, the Grateful Nation, for a woman who has served in the Armed Forces, the Career Technical Education, for an LBCC student in a CTE program, and the Klausman, available for women in business.

At least four $3,000 general scholarships will be given to LBCC or OSU students who had a minimum of a one-year delay in pursuing their college studies, have an interest in pursuing a career that advances the status of women, and have financial need.  

Although Zonta focuses much effort on service to women, men are not excluded from applying for scholarships, as long as their field of study supports the advancement of women.

Full scholarship descriptions, requirements, and deadlines are listed on Zonta of Corvallis’ website.