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EXPANDING HORIZONS
How an Amelia Earhart Fellow is ensuring the path forward for women in aerospace engineering and space sciences is secure with opportunities.
The Zonta Foundation for Women is honored to announce a life-changing gift to the Amelia Earhart (AE) Fellowship Endowment Fund from two-time AE Fellow (1977 and 1978) and Past International President (2020-2022) Sharon Langenbeck. In recognition of this tremendous donation that will continue to grow, ensuring the future of our mission, one
AE Fellow each year will be designated the Sharon Langenbeck Amelia Earhart Fellow.
Sharon knows first-hand the importance of education and is using her own knowledge and resources to build a better world for women and girls. She recently sat down with the Zonta Foundation for Women to give her insight on the value of the AE Fellowship and why it is important to support such an award. The full interview can be found at www.zonta.org.
Why is the Amelia Earhart Fellowship important to women in the aerospace engineering and space sciences fields as well as the membership of Zonta International?
The AE Fellowship is one of the very few (if only) fellowships in aerospace engineering and space sciences that is available to women of any nationality studying at any university or college offering accredited doctorate degrees in these fields.
Receiving the AE Fellowship is much more than the financial support. It is also a validation that others see your capability. There is prestige in being awarded the AE Fellowship. It is broadly recognized within the aerospace community.
When you work in a male-dominated field, it is important to have a network of women friends outside of work. Zonta offers such a network. One benefit is that as you move around the world for your career, there is an opportunity for Zonta members to help you integrate into your new location. Becoming a Zonta member is a way to give back the support you received for your doctorate degree.
What inspired you to make such a generous gift to support the Amelia Earhart Fellowship Endowment Fund?
This gift is one more way of my giving back to Zonta for the AE Fellowships I received in 1977 and 1978. Those fellowships made a difference in my life. I want to make a difference for the future generations of AE Fellows.
What would you say to others who are considering making a gift to the AE Endowment? How do you hope your gift will inspire other Zontians and friends?
The AE Fellowship program is highly successful and is Zonta’s longest running service program. It is OUR program and honors one of our most famous members, who was truly a trailblazer and role model for women. Making a gift to the AE Endowment Fund helps ensure the program will continue for years and provides for some financial stability. Contributing to the program means women from around the world would have the opportunity to follow in Amelia Earhart’s footsteps and make a lasting impact on our lives.
