The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva is looking for outstanding young women in the Lee County School District as candidates for the annual Young Women in Public Affairs award.
2020 is a year we are all unlikely to forget. At the beginning of the year, women of Zonta International were preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary and the passage of laws which enabled women to vote. Despite the coronavirus, the Sanibel-Captiva Club has continued to secure its mission of supporting the efforts of women around the globe and locally through its Young Women in Public Affairs Award (YWPA).
Women have been struggling to maintain their families, their education and jobs. Young women have found ways to be leaders in their community, but because schools have been closed and normal channels of participation have been difficult, little of their work has become known. That is why this is an especially good year to identify young women who are participating in efforts to increase women’s political participation and gender parity here and abroad, despite the barriers.
The YWPA Award recognizes young women, ages 16 to 19 as of April 1, 2021, who demonstrate superior leadership skills and a commitment to public service and civic causes.
“Public Affairs” refers to all aspects of community life where decisions must be made about issues which relate to and affect those communities in which people work and live. This award also encourages young women to continue their participation in public and political life as they journey into higher education and work life.
This award offers a $1,500 scholarship to the successful candidate. The winner’s application will also be passed forward to compete at Zonta’s regional and district levels for possible additional honors and awards.
The winner is likely to be a successful Lee County high school student who demonstrates the following qualities:
- Active commitment to volunteerism
- Experience in local government, student government or workplace leadership
- Volunteer leadership achievements
The formal application for this award can be printed from www.zonta.org (scroll down to Useful Links and click on YWPA Award). The completed application (hard copy) is to be mailed to:
Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva
P.O. Box 1244
Sanibel, FL 33957
The application must be received no later than February 22, 2021.
The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva is a service organization of professional women working together to provide hands-on assistance, advocacy and funds to empower women and girls on the Islands, in Lee County and also around the world through Zonta International. For more information or to make a donation please visit www.zontasancap.com.
