Grants & Scholarships
Empowering women through grants & scholarships for education, technology, & public affairs, and by supporting women in transition in the community.
​
Looking for a scholarship opportunity?
You can receive information about available scholarships.
Send your request via email to:
2023 STEM SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
​
We are thrilled to announce that Zonta Club of Billings' 2023 STEM Scholarship awardee, Kendahl Hinthrone, also won at the District and International Level.
Kendahl is a junior at MSU, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, maintaining a 3.36 GPA in a very challenging course of study while remaining actively involved in curriculum-related activities and volunteerism. Her academic and professional goals as a woman in mechanical engineering revolve around challenging gender norms, making significant contributions to the field, and inspiring future generations of girls to realize their potential in STEM-related fields.
Kendahl received $1,000 from our club, another $1,000 from DIstrict 12, and $5,000 from Zonta International. She was one of 30 recipients of the international award.
CONGRATULATIONS, Kendahl!
CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Scholarship
​
The goal of the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award Program is to encourage young women to participate in public affairs by recognizing the candidate’s commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements and a dedication to building a better world for women and girls through service and advocacy.
‘
Public affairs’ refers to all aspects of community life where decisions are made about issues which relate to and affect those communities in which people work and live.In order for more women to be represented in key decision-making positions worldwide, we must encourage young women to pursue careers or seek leadership positions in public policy making, government and volunteer organizations and further their education with these aims in view.
Young women, aged 16-19 as of April 1, 2024 are eligible to apply.
JMK Women in Business Scholarship
​
This award is named in honor of Jane M. Klausman, a member of the Zonta Club of Syracuse, New York, USA, and the 1990-1995 Zonta International Parliamentarian, The first JMK
Scholarships were awarded in 1998; since then, Zonta has awarded 713 scholarships, totaling more than US$1.8 million, to 559 women from 70 countries.
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships are awarded to women undertaking business studies who have demonstrated outstanding potential in the field. Zonta International offers up to 37 international scholarships of US$5,000 each.
Who is eligible?
â– Women of any age, pursuing a business program with major field of specialization in accounting, economics, finance, business management, business technology, information technology, marketing, operations management, human resources management, international business, or entrepreneurship 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.
â– Online students are also eligible to apply if enrolled at an accredited university, college, or institute.
â– 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 still be in school at the time the scholarship funds are disbursed and must not graduate before April 2024.
In 2019, Rocky Mountain College Student Cassidy Shaver, the recipient of Zonta Club of Billings’ JMK award, went on to win at the International level.
Women in STEM Scholarship
In 2019 and 2021, Zonta International was pleased to support the Zonta International Women in Technology Scholarship to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in information technology. In June 2022, the ZI membership voted to continue the program with an expanded focus on all STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields and not only information technology. With this change, the ZI Board approved a name change and will offer the Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship for the third cycle of the scholarship program.
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
â– 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 deter- mine if your field of study is eligible:
ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stem-list.pdf.
â– 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.
​
â– 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.
​
â– Applicant must be enrolled in a STEM degree program by 15 September 2023 and must not graduate before April 2024.
2024 APPLICATION WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON!
MedStart Summer Camp Sponsorship
Zonta Club of Billings is a proud student sponsor of the MedStart Summer Camp, based at MSUB in Billings June 25-29 this year.
From the MT Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center at MSU:
MedStart is a Montana AHEC Rural program designed to encourage high school students who are in sophomore and junior grade levels to pursue their interest in a variety of healthcare careers. AHEC focuses on accepting students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, low-income families, rural areas, minorities, or first generation college students. The aim of MedStart is to provide students - who may not otherwise have the opportunity - a chance to further explore healthcare careers, learn about college life, and realize it is possible to pursue higher education. Students often think of healthcare as including only “doctors and nurses.” MedStart tries to break down that stereotype by educating students on the large variety of careers available in the healthcare industry.
The majority of attendees are female, and most are from the rural communities of eastern Montana. Our club's $500 sponsorship will allow one student to attend this amazing weeklong program, which includes meals and housing in a dorm room at MSUB. This is just another small way in which we at Zonta BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.
For more information, visit https://healthinfo.montana.edu/workforce-development/pipeline/medstart.html
Watch this short clip to see the impact that the camp has on students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h-rqVTp-cQ
PAST / ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Hannah Hashbarger, 2021 Club Winner
Haylee Fauth, 2020 Club Winner
JANE M. KLAUSMAN
WOMEN IN BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP
​
This annual scholarship is awarded to women of any age, pursuing a business program with major field of specialization in accounting, economics, finance, business management, marketing, operations management, human resources management, international business, or entrepreneurship at an accredited university/college/institute, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field and are living or studying in a Zonta district/region.
Online students are also eligible to apply if enrolled at an accredited university/college/institute. An applicant must be in at least the second year of undergraduate studies to qualify for the award.
The Zonta Club of Billings award is $1,500. The winner advances to the District level. The District winner is awarded $2,000 and advances to International consideration. There are eight winners at the International level that receive $8,000 each.
​
Local club deadline is July 15th.
For additional information on JMK please visit the Zonta International site.
Kaitlin Angel, 2019 Club & District Winner
Cassidy Shaver, 2018 Club, District, and International Winner
Keira Skovlin, 2023 Winner
YOUNG WOMEN IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARD
​
This award honors young women 16-19 who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations. Applications locally are due in March/April each year.
The local club award is $1,500. The local winner is advanced to District 12 for possible selection as the District winner, an additional $1,500 award. From the District winners, ten international winners receive an additional $5,000.
Congratulations to the recipient of our 2023 Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) scholarship, Keira Skovlin. Keira will be awarded $1,500 from Zonta Club of Billings, and her application has been forwarded to Zonta District 12 for district competition. The District 12 winner will receive an additional $1,000 from D12 and $5,000 from Zonta International, Good luck, Keira!
The YWPA award is given to a young woman, aged 16-19, who exhibits leadership, and a dedication to service and the empowerment of women and girls. As always, our club received a number of exceptional applications this year, but Keira's well-written application stood out to the selection committee due to a number of factors: her involvement in school and community, her numerous leadership roles, being a strong advocate for women's rights, and her international awareness. She is currently a senior at Hellgate High School in Missoula, and plans to study international affairs and economics at Northeastern University.
Helena Brown, 2022 Winner
_.jpg)
Kaylee Stubbs, 2021 Winner
Photo by Annalesa Warner
Club & District Winner, 2015 & 2016
Amy Dixon, 2019 Club Winner
WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY AWARD
​
Women make up about 20 percent of the workforce in the tech industry. To address this, Zonta International launched the Women in Technology Scholarship in 2019 to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in technology.
​
This award is now only being awarded at the international level. Apply directly at Zonta International.
ZONTA CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY GRANT
​
In honor of 100 years of ZONTA, Zonta International awarded a special one-time grant opportunity! Grants of up to $5,000 each recognized a charitable organization working to improve the lives of women and girls in our local community.