Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada
2023 Bursary/Award Winners
What an inspiring 2023 Annual Zonta Awards Reception we had recognizing the impressive accomplishments of women in the National Capital Region in public affairs, higher education, business, STEM, and the theatre arts!
Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada
2023 Young Women in Public Affairs – Valene Musyimi & Kaelyn Aldridge
Recognized for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes.
Left: (winner) Kaelyn Aldridge, Lauren Nagel of Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada. The Zonta Member pictured was also on the selection committee for this award.
Left: The mother of Valene Musyimi (winner), receiving the award on her behalf, Lauren Nagel of Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada. The Zonta Member pictured was also on the selection committee for this award.
Our club was thrilled to award our annual Theatre Arts “Drama” Award to Gwenith Kikkawa and Daniella Bell, both students at the University of Ottawa!
We can’t wait to see their future artistic endeavours!
Left: Valerie Knowles, Prem Grainger, (winner) Gwenith Kikkawa, Cynthia O’Neil of Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada. The Zonta Members pictured were also on the selection committee for this award.
Left: Prem Grainger (Past President), Cynthia O’Neil (Past President), and (winner) Daniella Bell. The Zonta Members pictured were also on the selection committee for this award (missing from picture Valerie Knowles).
Sprott Students Awarded Scholarships for Women in Business and Women in STEM
Award recipients Shahrzad Kahrizi and Aanya Baindur (centre) pictured with Sprott School of Business and Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada representatives.
Sprott School of Business Bachelor of Commerce student Aanya Baindur and Technology Innovation and Management (TIM) Master’s student Shahrzad Kahrizi were recognized at the Zonta Club of Ottawa’s 23rd Annual Women’s Empowerment Awards.
Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada
2023 Women in STEM Scholarship – Shahrzad Kahrizi
Shahrzad Kahrizi, a Master of Entrepreneurship candidate in the TIM program, is the inaugural recipient of the Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship, a new scholarship designed to encourage women to pursue education, career opportunities, and leadership roles in information technology.
An international student from Iran with a background in Industrial Engineering, Shahrzad is a research assistant in the Cross-Border Digital Inclusive Entrepreneurship Center at Sprott. Her research focuses on cross-border entrepreneurial opportunities, innovation community building and revenue generation opportunities for the center.
“For a new immigrant like me, it is important to have clubs and associations like Zonta that support women, especially in entrepreneurship and in areas like science and technology. I am very thankful for this award,” said Shahrzad during her acceptance speech.
Left: Kirsten North, (President), CJ Blake (Past President), Shahrzad Kahrizi (winner), with Renuka Gamage (Vice President) of Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada. The Zonta Members pictured were also on the selection committee for this award.
Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada
2023 Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship – Aanya Baindur
Aanya Baindur, who recently completed her second year of Sprott’s Bachelor of Commerce program, received the 2023 Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada Jane M. Klausman (JMK) Women in Business Scholarship, which helps women pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers.
“As a transgender woman of color in the world of business, I am acutely aware of the unique challenges we face, but this scholarship award reminds me that our voices are powerful, our stories are valuable, and our contributions are essential,” stated Aanya as she accepted her award. “Thank you to the Sprott School of Business for empowering me to go out there and turn my dreams into reality. Where others offered doubt, Sprott offered only encouragement.”
Aanya is an active advocate for equality and inclusion as director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the Sprott Business Students’ Society. She also founded a non-profit organization, Trans Advice Initiative, which aims to help transgender and gender-questioning individuals discover identity and seek support during their journey.
Both scholarships are awarded by Zonta Club of Ottawa in the amount of CAD$1,000. Shahrzad and Aanya’s applications are nominated for the district competition for a chance to receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International.
Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.
Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada
2023 Bursary/Award Winners
| Names | Zonta Club of Ottawa, Canada (ZCO CA)
2023 Awards/Bursaries |
School, College, University |
| U-Ottawa <> winner: Miray Albetar | ZCO CA ‘Mature University Student Bursary’ | University of Ottawa |
| Carleton-U <> winner: Ines Takyi | ZCO CA ‘Mature University Student Bursary’ | Carleton University |
| Daniella Bell | ZCO CA Theatre Arts ‘Drama’ Bursary | University of Ottawa |
| Gwenith Kikkawa | ZCO CA Theatre Arts ‘Drama’ Bursary | University of Ottawa |
| Valene Munanie Musymi | ZCO CA #1. Young Women in Public Affairs Award | Immaculata High School |
| Kaelyn Margaret Aldridge | ZCO CA #2. Young Women in Public Affairs Award | Sir Robert Borden High School |
| Aanya Baindur | ZCO CA Jane M Klausman (Women in Business) | Carleton University |
| Shahrzad Kahrizi | ZCO CA Women in STEM Scholarship | Carleton University |
| Christelle Mbenga | ZCO CA New Immigrant Woman Award | Collège La Cité |