Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship

The Zonta Foothills
Climate Justice Scholarship

The Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship is an investment in the education of women pursuing careers in climate-related fields. It is offered to women* enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder in at least the third year of undergraduate studies through a graduate program pursuing degrees focusing on natural resources and climate justice/action.

This year, our club will award two scholarships:

$5,000 scholarship at the graduate student level, and another
$2,000 scholarship at the undergraduate student level.

Watch our Women Taking Climate Action video to learn more about our 2025 scholarship recipients and their work. Our hope is that this year’s winners will attend our Climate Justice Forum on April 25, 2026.

*To be eligible, you must consistently live and identify as a woman.

Now Accepting Applications!

We are now accepting applications for the Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship.

Application deadline is 5:00 pm on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Winners announced by February 28, 2026.

The winners will receive the funds via check to CU Boulder in March.

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As the impacts of climate change worsen, conditions for women around the world are worsening. Climate change is a threat multiplier, exacerbating conditions for vulnerable populations, and women are often the most vulnerable because they make up 70 percent of the world’s poor. Women suffer the most from the direct and indirect effects of climate change because they have less access to resources, education, and decision-making power than men, and are often the most dependent on natural resources for their livelihood.

In 2021, Zonta International issued its Statement on Climate Change: a Gender Equality Issue, which highlights the importance of educating women and girls especially in response to climate change’s impact on this population.  Zonta Says NOW to Gender Equality and Climate Action is the campaign to address climate justice at local, national, and international levels. The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County enthusiastically endorses this direction.

It is our intent that the Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship help build a gender-equal, sustainable world by educating women, advocating for women’s rights, and inspiring female leaders. We hope this scholarship will empower leaders who will build just systems to sustain the planet for future generations. We anticipate that the women receiving this prestigious award will be involved in promoting this award and support future recipients of the Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship through mentorship and networking.

Our 2025 Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship Recipients

Our 1st place award of $5,000 was awarded to a team of three University of Colorado graduate students who applied as a cohort: Brigid Mark, Sara Fleming and Mariah Bowman. These graduate students were recognized for their collaborative work creating and implementing an undergraduate course that helps students determine ways to impact the CU Boulder Climate Action Plan (CAP) and incorporate climate justice into the Plan.

Because of the stellar group of applicants who applied for this grant cycle, we also awarded a 2nd place prize to Casey Davis, who received $2,000.  Casey is a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry, working to create sustainable electronics for renewable energy applications.

Brigid Mark

Brigid Mark is a fifth year Ph.D. student interested in ecological health, Native political issues, and qualitative methodologies. Brigid holds master's in Sociology from CU Boulder and a bachelor's in Environmental Studies and Biology from the College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University.

Mariah Bowman

Mariah Bowman is in her third and final year of law school at the University of Colorado, studying Environmental and Indigenous Peoples' Law. Before law school, Mariah worked for three years in federal and state politics. In addition to climate activism, Mariah is passionate about making government work for people. She has worked for all three branches of the federal government, two branches of state government, and local government.

Sara Fleming

Sara Fleming is a graduate student in Human Geography at the University of Colorado Boulder, interested in the intersections of climate justice, housing justice, and community organizing. Her thesis examines this topic through a study of Colorado's community-owned mobile home parks. Prior to graduate school, Sara worked in communications for both housing policy, and climate policy organizations.

Casey Davis

Casey is currently in her 5th year of a Chemistry PhD at CU Boulder, studying the characterization of organic electronics for renewable energy applications. She is also working to integrate energy justice into her degree and energy research. Casey notes, “I am interested in both the deployment of a just energy transition, and in broadening the education of scientists to establish a workforce of people who understand the societal implications of their work.” Outside of work she enjoys reading, cooking , and the classic Boulder outdoor activities.

Who Is Eligible?

Women* who are attending the University of Colorado Boulder, in at least the third year of undergraduate studies when the application is submitted to the Zonta Foothills Foundation are eligible to apply. Applicants must still be attending CU Boulder at the time the scholarship funds are awarded in spring 2026.

We are looking for women who are applying their passion through both their studies and their actions. Applicants should be engaging in community action or strategies that will contribute to protecting the environment and mitigating climate change.

*To be eligible, you must consistently live and identify as a woman.

Scholarship Application

All application materials must be received by the Zonta Foothills Foundation by 5:00 pm on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Required components for the application:
● Application form completed below, including an essay or video that explains how your work focuses on community action or strategies that will contribute to protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, and describes how you mentor or network with other women in climate action work
● Unofficial transcript from CU Boulder to verify current enrollment
● Letter of recommendation commenting on your climate action work

Optional additional items to include:
● Articles, pamphlets, books, curriculum vitae, photos or other publications

Please send all supporting materials to the Zonta Foothills Foundation at president@zontafoothills.org by 5:00 pm Monday, February 2, 2026.

Let’s get started: