Aubrey Rybarczyk Women in History Essay 2011

Aubrey attends North Olmsted High School and maintains a 4.396 GPA.  She is currently president of her Key Club dedicated to service.  Her activities include working with children including holiday parties and teaching.  For the elderly, she has participated in activities like serving meals, leaf raking and snow shoveling.  Aubrey has also been active in fundraising for numerous worthy causes like Juvenile Diabetes and Suicide Prevention.

She will be attending Ohio State University in the fall, where she plans on majoring in speech therapy.  Her goal is to become a speech and language pathologist working with autistic children.

The Zonta Club of Cleveland also announced its Scholarship Recipients for 2011 – 2012.  They are:

Amanda Drapac-Novotny

Amanda Drapac-Novotny 2011 - 2012 Renewal

Amanda is a second-year recipient of a Zonta Club of Cleveland scholarship.  She graduated from Saint Joseph Academy in 2010.  She completed over 500 hours of volunteering at Fairview Hospital during her high school years.  She was also a star tennis player and class valedictorian.  Her honors included being voted Outstanding Student by the student body, AP Scholar, and receiving the Four-Year Award in Science for her leadership and performance during her four years at the Academy.

She is now completing her freshman year at Saint Louis University majoring in investigative and medical sciences.  Her devotion to helping others continues with her work in organizations including Pre-Health Club, Habitat for Humanity, Presidential Scholars Society and Alpha Phi Omega.  She is especially devoted to her work with the Health Resource Center, a free clinic run by second year medical students.  She is a Medical Scholar, which means she will be able to apply to St. Louis University’s Medical School at the end of her sophomore year.  She is maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

Hilary Rizk

Hilary is completing her senior year at Strongsville High School, with a GPA of 4.5.  She has received departmental awards for chemistry, physics, English, social studies and French, and is a member of the National Honors Society.  She won the First Place Regional Award through the NASA Student Involvement Program and earned her Bronze Award in Girl Scouting.  Outside school, she has won excellent recognition for her dance and piano performances.  She also worked six (6) hours a week as a care giver for a special needs child.

Hilary Rizk 2011

Her volunteer work includes working with children and assisting the elderly in many ways.  She has been politically active canvassing, working on phone banks, and rally organizations.  She has also worked on fund raisers to aid the impoverished and sick.  One of her greatest joys is her work for the Northeast Ohio SPCA and volunteering at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.  She has a deep love and respect for our environment.

In the fall, she will be attending Auburn University where she will major in wildlife science.

Kelly Moran

Kelly is the recipient of our Birgit Jacobsen Scholarship created in memory of our long-time member and friend, and is awarded to a young woman majoring in engineering or science.

Kelly Morgan - 2011 Birgit Jacobsen

Kelly is graduating from Holy Name High School in Parma Heights with a 4.411 GPA.  She has received numerous awards for her academic work, including winning the American Mathematics Contest and receiving the best score on the Americanism and Government Test, through the American Legion Society.  Other academic achievements include earning first honors every quarter, currently being ranked third in her class and being accepted into the National Honors Society in her junior year.  She has also lettered in Varsity soccer and track.

Volunteering is listed as her most important extracurricular activity.  She tutors lower classmen three days a week, as well as grade school children.  She spent a week in Tennessee fixing a damaged home with a church group and has served meals at the Holy Spirit Church soup kitchen.  These are only a few of the activities in which she is active.  Kelly states that she is planning on continuing her passion for helping others in college.

In the fall, Kelly will be attending the University of Notre Dame.  She plans on majoring in either engineering or pre-med.

Lauren Ann Holler

Lauren is our club’s winner of the Young Women in Public Affairs Award.  Her name has been submitted to our District.  District winners will then be submitted to Zonta International for recognition.

Lauren Holler - 2011 YWPA Nominee

Lauren is a senior at Cuyahoga Heights High School with glowing recommendations from her instructors.  She has been extremely active in student government and working to help both her school and community.  She has worked with her Student Council, where she is currently the president, to volunteer and raise funds for the American Red Cross, Heart Association and United Way.  Her passion for learning about the world led her to participate in the Ohio Model United Nations for three years.

Besides her devotion to helping others, she participates in numerous extracurricular activities including swim team, varsity cheerleading, choir and drama.  Her English teacher referred to her as a “modern Renaissance Woman.”  She does all this while maintaining her excellent academic standing.  Outside school, Lauren is a devoted dance student at the Revolutions Dance Academy.

Lauren stated in her personal goals, “I will double major in dance and political science because I wish to continue my love for dance while exploring my other interests.  I see myself as a lawyer or an elected official working within the government. Service is an important part of my life.  I want to inspire others by setting an example to follow.”

These fine young ladies will be recognized and honored at the club’s annual spring fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza South, Independence, Ohio.  “A Taste of Tuscany” features music sensations Nick Costas and Bill Pirie, and includes a silent auction, raffles and food stations.  Tickets start at $45.  Ads, photo and interview opportunities are available.  For more information, contact Events Chair Melinda Bilfield at eventschair@zontacleveland.org.

Cosandra Wheeler Induction into the Zonta Club of Cleveland

Caitlin Figaro presented with Certificate by District 5 Lt. Gov. Rae Arnold and Club President Sandra Hommel

The Zonta Club of Cleveland and Zonta International’s District 5 honored and presented certificates to Parma’s Caitlin Figaro, Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship recipient, for both Zonta International and District 5.  The dinner was held at Independence’s Crowne Plaza, on Thursday, January 20, 2011.

District 5′s Lt. Governor Rae Arnold, who traveled from Columbus on a snowy evening, and Club President Sandra Hommel presented the certificates.  Christopher Shellito, Chair of the Club’s Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Committee, also presented a proclamation from the City of Parma.

Ms. Figaro attends Capital University in Columbus (not Columbia University as indicated in the prior posting; the Web site editor apologies for the error).  Zonta International is supporting Caitlin with $5K and District 5 with $1K, respectively.  Ms. Figaro was also District 5′s recipient and Zonta International’s runner-up for 2009-2010.  District 5 covers the states of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Congratulations, Caitlin!  We are proud of you!

Zonta International advised District 5 Governor Patricia Roby on Saturday, October 16, 2010.  The following morning, Governor Pat announced the news at the conclusion of the annual District 5 conference held at Firestone Country Club, hosted by the Zonta Club of ABC (Akron, Barberton and Cuyahoga Falls).  There were 95 attendees from the states of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, including eight (8) from the Zonta Club of Cleveland.  Through Zonta Club of Cleveland, District 5 had nominated Ms. Figaro for the scholarship, to Zonta International.

In her thank-you note to Immediate Past President Sunny Shellito, Ms. Figaro stated:

“I am thrilled and honored to have been chosen as one of the recipients of the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship.  Your (Zonta) support at the local level enabled me to advance to District’s and ultimately win this prestigious award.  This scholarship is extremely significant to me, as it represents competition on an international level.  In addition, the Zonta Foundation upholds the same philosophical principles I have always tried to live my life by.

“This past year, I had the opportunity to attend the University of Melbourne in Australia to study international business.  This experience was everything I hoped it would be.  Not only did it give me the opportunity to become more independent, it certainly enhanced my cultural awareness and expanded my world view.

“As my undergraduate career is winding down, I am looking to the future and preparing to take on new challenges.  I hope to become a successful business leader and entrepreneur, while working toward my MBA.  Through it all I plan on continuing my legacy of service, remembering my roots and giving back to the community.”

Ms. Figaro is a student at Columbia University in Columbus, Ohio.  Congratulations, Caitlin!

Per Adrienne Bailey:  ”It was moving, fill with missions to eradicate violence against women.  The keynote speaker, Melissa Moore had given more details of being a victim of violence.  Her father was a serial killer.  Johanna Orozco, a local activist against teen violence was also in attendance.  It was inspiring to see Ms. Orozco a teen victim by her former boyfriend.”

October is Domestic Violence month.  It is represented by the color purple and purple lights.

Membership Outreach Coffee

Founded in 1919, Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy.  More than 31,000 members in 66 countries and geographic areas volunteer their time, talents and support to fulfill the international service projects, goals and scholarship programs.

The Zonta Club of Cleveland, founded in 1921, is the local Zonta International affiliate.  Executives and professionals seeking membership information are cordially invited to a Membership Coffee on November 1, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brook Park Branch Public Library located at 6155 Engle Rd. Brook Park, Ohio 44142

To RSVP and for more information contact Angela Wilkes at 216-765-0440.

Zontian Angela Wilkes has created a Race for the Place team to benefit The Gathering Place…

The Zonta Club of Cleveland is pleased to announce its new leadership team for the upcoming year.  Sandra Hommel will be serving as president….