SAPPHIRE Stewart, a project officer with the Coffs Harbour Bypass team, has been announced as the 2023 Zonta International Women in STEM scholarship winner.

The STEM scholarship encourages women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in STEM fields.

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Sapphire’s application, which had already won the Zonta Club of Coffs Harbour Inc award, was judged against others from the 25 Zonta clubs in District 24, which covers most of NSW and ACT.

“Each of the 31 global Zonta Districts submits one application for consideration for an international scholarship,” Jenny Wiseman, Zonta Club of Coffs Harbour told News Of The Area.

A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 Districts receives an award of US$5000 from Zonta International.

“Sapphire, as the Zonta District 24 winner, was awarded an international scholarship, and is therefore one of just three Australian STEM scholarship winners, and one of 31 awardees from 20 countries.”

To qualify for nomination, applicants need to be pursuing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree program at an accredited university, and demonstrate outstanding potential in the field.

Box ticked for Sapphire who is in her third year of a Bachelor of Engineering Systems – Civil (Honours) at Southern Cross University.

“Sapphire was highly praised by both her academic advisor and employment supervisor.”

Her exemplary recent track record includes her full time employment since 2021 as a project officer on the Coffs Bypass project, as well as being a member of the local State Emergency Services (SES).

In her application, 23-year-old Sapphire stated, “Balancing full-time work with full-time studies has been demanding, requiring a high level of time management, dedication and resilience.

“The Zonta scholarship’s recognition of women in STEM fields is particularly inspiring and motivating.

“It signifies the importance of gender diversity in STEM and encourages women to pursue careers that have traditionally been male dominated.”

Simone Gardiner, aged 37, who is studying a Bachelor of Marine Science (Honours) at Southern Cross University, also impressed the Zonta Coffs Harbour judges and was shortlisted in the scholarship process.

A feature of many of the applications was a desire to change career direction, often later in life, and often to a more challenging and meaningful career.

Simone completed a Bachelor of Business and worked for a number of years in business administration overseas before changing direction and enrolling in a Bachelor of Science at SCU.

She wanted to “demonstrate to women around the world that we are all capable of changing our path, of writing a new narrative, and that it’s never too late to start again”.

“Join us at the Zonta Club of Coffs Harbour to help build a better world for women and girls,” said Jenny.

For more information contact zontacoffsharbour24@gmail.com.

By Andrea FERRARI