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. The winner(s) of this annual award will receive up to $5,000. 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.

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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 cohorts: 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 will receive $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.

Erin Johnson Our 2024 Scholarship Recipient

Erin, an MBA candidate at CU Boulder, was named the 2023 Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship winner.  Erin is the Program Lead for the Women in Power System Transformation (PST) Initiative at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Her focus is the intersection of climate action and gender equality.

“This scholarship is a profound acknowledgment of my dedication to mitigate climate change and elevate the role of women in climate action. As the first person in my family to pursue a master's degree, this scholarship relieves the financial pressures of my education, enabling me to focus on my role at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory where I strive to create an equitable environment for women in power systems. It supports my leadership in advancing the Women in Power System Transformation program, which aims to empower women to spearhead the clean energy transition and achieve gender parity in a field where women are vastly underrepresented. This award not only aids my personal academic pursuits but also reinforces the importance of my work in empowering women around the world to be at the forefront of combating climate change.” 

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 at the time the scholarship funds are awarded.

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.

Now Accepting Applications

We are now accepting applications for the Zonta Foothills Climate Justice Scholarship. Application deadline: December 2, 2024

Winner announced: December 20, 2024

The winner will receive the funds via check to CU Boulder at the start of the Spring 2025 semester.

*Anyone who identifies as a woman sometimes or always, regardless of the gender assigned at birth.

Scholarship Application

All application materials must be received by the Zonta Foothills Foundation by 5:00 pm on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Other required components for application:
● Unofficial transcript from CU Boulder to verify current enrollment
● Letter of recommendation commenting on the candidate’s climate action work
● Articles, pamphlets, books, curriculum vitae, photos or other publications (optional)

Please send all supporting materials to the Zonta Foothills Foundation at president@zontafoothills.org by 5:00 pm on Monday, December 2, 2024.

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