The Greater Western Sydney Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) award ceremony
In November 2024, Zonta District 24 hosted the Greater Western Sydney Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) award ceremony where nine worthy winners were announced and shared in a prize pool of $24,000. District 24 Governor, Bernardine Guy, presented the awards at the ceremony, which was held at the Western Sydney University Observatory (see attached image).
The award came about when Prof. Alexie Papanicolaou, from Western Sydney University, attended the Zonta Blue Mountains Awards night in November, 2023. He was impressed with the support being offered to women to pursue their educational aspirations and saw that Western Sydney University’s goals were aligned with those of Zonta – that being to empower women and girls, particularly through equality and education. The result was a very generous donation of $24,000 to support women studying STEM subjects in the Greater Western Sydney region. We thank Western Sydney University wholeheartedly for this support.
A working party from the Zonta Clubs of the Blue Mountains, Nepean Valley and Macarthur was established to design and administer the award. Having advertised through Zonta Clubs across Greater Western Sydney; government and non-government schools; TAFE campuses, Vocational Training organisations and home-schooling networks, we received 37 amazing applications. Eventually, 9 exceptional candidates were selected to receive awards.
Each recipient demonstrated enthusiasm, skill, confidence and dedication to their STEM studies. All exhibited a clear understanding of the social responsibility of women in STEM and are not intimidated by a male dominated environment. We see a bright future for women in STEM. Here are some details of the top four winners:
Carla Charon, a Year 12 student from Elderslie High School and in the Zonta Macarthur area was awarded $4000. Carla received her award for a research study in Alzheimer’s Disease. She demonstrated an understanding of the validity of data and the processes involved in medical research. Carla is passionate about finding ways to improve medical processes for people as indicated by excerpts from her acceptance speech:
“Zonta’s mission to support women in STEM holds special meaning for me. Historically, STEM fields have been shaped by predominantly male perspectives, which are especially noticeable in fields like medicine. In clinical trials for pharmaceuticals, the male-to-female ratio are often high. This lack of female representation can lead to gaps in understanding how women may respond to medications differently to men, further impacting treatment efficacy and safety. Diffusing imbalances like this is what the Zonta scholarship represents; it is more than just financial support—it’s a call to bridge these gaps and to ensure that our future contributions as women create a more inclusive and informed world.
Receiving this scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me. After putting in my best effort, it feels like a powerful milestone, one that reinforces my commitment to achieving my dreams and contributing to my dream career in healthcare. Thank you once again to Zonta, to Western Sydney University, and to everyone who has supported me. This scholarship means the world to me, and I am truly excited for the journey ahead. Thank you.”
Yelleina Alabaso, a Year 11 student from Bankstown Girls High School and in the Zonta Sydney West area was awarded $4000. Yelleina received her award for achievement in Mathematics and Technology as the lead women coder at an international robotics competition. As part of the only female team, and successful finalists, Yelleina learnt about the challenges of design, including failure. She is excited, passionate and a critical thinker as demonstrated by excerpts from her acceptance speech:
“I am grateful to be chosen as a recipient of this scholarship, as it is an invaluable opportunity for me to continue developing my passion in STEM. The scholarship will open up new opportunities for me such as access to efficient technology, such as a laptop, to support my studies and hobbies, as well as provide resources for future events. Additionally, this opportunity will assist in preparing me for university and beyond, opening doors to work and skill development that will serve me in my future career.
Once again, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Zonta organisation for not only supporting me as an individual, but also for empowering and believing in young girls like myself to pursue our dreams without the barriers and limitations we might otherwise face. In a field that has historically been dominated by men, your support means the world to us. Thank you for seeing us, for acknowledging our potential, and for giving us this chance to make a difference. Thank you”
Katrina Thomas, a Year 12 student from Broughton Anglican College and in the Zonta Macarthur area received $4000. Katrina received her award for achievement in Technology, particularly in coding, helping to develop a patient survey for Sydney West Health. She honed her problem-solving skills by working with a team to develop user friendly software. She sees a future role in providing leadership to other women in the health field.
“Winning this scholarship isn’t just about financial support – though my bank account and I are both immensely grateful! To me, this award represents a belief in my potential, my curiosity, and yes, even my questionable lab results. With this support, I’m motivated to keep pushing boundaries, to keep trying and to make an impact in STEM that goes beyond my original hypotheses.
So, to everyone who made this scholarship possible – thank you for fuelling my drive and my dreams. I’m excited for what lies ahead and can’t wait to tackle new challenges – hopefully with better outcomes. After all, the future of STEM needs all of us – especially those willing to experiment so others don’t have to. Thank you for believing in me, green smoothies and all.”
Astrid Nelvita, a mature-age student studying the Advanced Diploma of Electronics and Communications Engineering at Granville TAFE and living in the Zonta Nepean Valley area received $4000. Astrid received her award for her passion and drive to develop automation to assist women in developing their businesses at home, helping them to generate income and hence, empowerment. Astrid is a mother of two, undertaking a career change and determined to make life easier for working mothers.
“Winning this award reduces the barrier for entry into further studies and it also provides me with networking opportunities with Western Sydney University. Thank you for recognising and supporting women in STEM, especially those in TAFE”
We are in discussions with Western Sydney University and are hopeful that they may partner with Zonta District 24 again for a similar award in 2025.