Zonta Club of Billings Announces 2026 Young Women In Leadership Award Recipient

gabrielladecke
Apr 17
2 min read

The Zonta Club of Billings is proud to announce Karlie Heaney of Billings Senior High School as this year's Young Women In Leadership Award recipient. Karlie has been awarded $1,500 in recognition of her academic excellence, community involvement, and outstanding leadership.

A Student Who Leads by Example

Karlie maintains a 4.0+ GPA while taking on an impressive range of commitments. She serves as a Junior Student Body Officer on Student Council, holds a leadership role in National Honors Society, and competes in volleyball, cross country, and track. Outside of school, she volunteers at Billings Clinic and Intermountain Health and dedicates time to tutoring her fellow students.

Her teachers and advisors describe her as reliable, self-driven, and someone who consistently goes above and beyond what is expected — all while remaining humble and focused on helping others.

Creating Change: Glow to Grow

Perhaps the best example of Karlie's leadership is a program she created entirely on her own initiative. After volunteering at a middle school Leadership Summit, Karlie developed meaningful relationships with a group of middle school girls. Rather than letting those connections fade, she launched Glow to Grow — a mentorship program designed to help young girls build confidence, develop a positive self-image, and prepare for the transition to high school. Karlie will continue to serve as a role model for these students when they join her at Senior High next year.

Looking Ahead

Karlie plans to pursue a career in nursing, and those who know her well have no doubt she will excel. The compassion, work ethic, and leadership she has demonstrated throughout high school are exactly the qualities that will make her an outstanding nurse and community member.

In addition to the $1,500 awarded by the Zonta Club of Billings, Karlie is eligible to receive $1,000 from Zonta District 12 and $5,000 from Zonta International. We wish her the very best as her application advances through the selection process.

Billings Senior High School and the Zonta Club of Billings are proud to recognize Karlie Heaney. She is a remarkable example of what young women in leadership look like, and her community is better for having her in it.