Write a commentThe Zonta Club of Oswego is pleased to announce three scholarship recipients for 2025.
The Zonta Club of Oswego is dedicated to advancing the status of women, most notably through education. Zonta Club of Oswego is part of Zonta International, a leading global organization of professionals building a better world for women and girls.
Zonta International envisions a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision-making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.
A testament to the Zonta Club of Oswego's mission in action can be found in these scholarships that are awarded annually.
The 2025 recipient of the Zonta Club of Oswego Young Women in Leadership Scholarship is Ella O'Connor. The Young Women in Leadership Scholarship recognizes young women who participate in public and community life through volunteer service and leadership and exhibit a commitment to the advancement of the status of women.
Ella is a 2025 graduate of Oswego High School. As a student, she was involved with Student Council currently serving as Class President, the National Honor Society, OHS Spanish Club currently serving as President, Yearbook currently serving as editor, and is currently Captain of the Volleyball Team.
In her community, Ella is currently the Student Representative and Committee co-chair for the Garrett Dunsmoor Memorial Foundation. Ella is extremely proud of her Birthday Box project she created to allow students living in food insecure homes to have a birthday cake to celebrate their special day.
She plans on attending Syracuse University in the fall and will be majoring in Public Relations.
This year there were two recipients of the High School Student Scholarship, awarded to an outstanding female high school senior who has been accepted into a formal higher education program, leading to an undergraduate associate or bachelor degree. The first recipient of the Zonta Club of Oswego 2025 High School Scholarship is Alaina DiBlasi.
Alaina is a 2025 graduate of Oswego High School. In school, Alaina is a three-sport varsity athlete, playing soccer, hockey and lacrosse since Freshman year. Alaina is the National Honor Society Vice President, Class Vice President and a member of both Student Council and Spanish club.
Outside of school, Alaina was actively involved in many programs including Peaceful Remedies and Oswego Buc Booster club. Alaina has also been an instructor in the USA Hockey District Tryouts, and worked with the Mary Gosek Golf Tournament, Teal Gate and Teal Palace.
Alaina will be attending Binghamton University in the fall majoring in Engineering and playing collegiate lacrosse.
The second 2025 recipient of the Zonta Club of Oswego High School Scholarship is Zoe Grzesik.
Zoe is a 2025 graduate of Mexico High School. In high school, some of Zoe's many activities included the Marine Corp JROTC where she is Commanding Officer, Robotics Club serving as President, Honor Society, National Honor Society serving as Vice President, and Student Council.
Outside of school, Zoe was involved in many activities including Community Connections, Museum clean-up, Trunk-or-Treat and Honor Flight. Zoe enjoys making jewelry, being outside and is passionate about aviation.
Zoe plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall to study Aeronautical Science and will complete flight training. Her goal is to become a professional pilot, either for medical flights, or for Delta Airlines.
