Young women recognized for their leadership

Young women recognized for their leadership

Wellington Mayor Celia-Wade-Brown hosted the 2015 Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Awards. The winners were Anna Collett and Brittany Young.

Anna, the winner of the Zonta Club of Wellington Award, is a former student at Wellington High School where, among many other things, she founded and lead the college Environmental Group, was a member of the Feminist Club and Amnesty International, as well as being involved with fundraising for an orphanage in Nepal. In practical activities she finds her direct connection with individuals, providing support and education and seeing the positive impact of her efforts most rewarding. An ambitious student, she plans to study environmental science and biology at Victoria University, working towards a PhD in these fields to become a leading climate change scientist.

Brittany, won the Zonta Mana Club Award. She attended Onslow College and now plans to study law and science, double majoring in development studies and international relations at Victoria University. Her college says, “Brittany is capable of making great contributions both to the local and wider community in the future. She has a real concern for socio-political issues and has the integrity to stand up and make a difference”.

Brittany’s involvement at Onslow College has been very impressive, a representative on the Year 13 council, and was a peer support mentor for the Year nines. Brittany attended Global Leadership for World Vision and Launching Leaders in 2014.

“The judges were very impressed with the high standard of applications which made the selection difficult. However, each of the young women had made significant contributions to their communities and were worthy of recognition,” says the Awards Coordinator, Sandra Daly.

The two winners will now go forward to the Zonta’s national competition, where US$1,000 award is available . The winner may then go forward to the Zonta international competition where ten awards of $US4,000 each are made each year.

In previous years, Mana and Wellington Zonta winners have gone on to win at national and international level. In the last five years, two Wellington recipients reached the international competition.

President of the Wellington Club, Dr Jan Pearson and President Linda Hall -Thorpe of Zonta Club of Mana presented their winners with a $500 prize and a bouquet of flowers .

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