Six Bradford Area High School senior girls were recognized by Zonta Club of Bradford as Amelia Earhart Awardees this week.

January is Amelia Earhart month. Amelia was born in 1897, before airplanes even existed. On July 20, 1929, this 32-year-old pilot landed her Lockheed Vega plane on the 14th fairway of the Chautauqua Golf Course and was welcomed to the area by Dr. Bestor, the president of Chautauqua Institution. Amelia never got to celebrate her 40th birthday, as her plane vanished near Hawaii in 1937. Earhart was a record-breaking female aviator whose international fame paved the way for women in commercial flight. At the time of her disappearance, she was an active member of Zonta International. In honor of their missing aviator, Zonta International currently awards 30 $10,000 Amelia Earhart Fellowships to women pursuing postgraduate research in aeronautical engineering or space exploration. This year celebrates the 85th year these fellowships have been awarded. Since 1938, Zonta has supported 1,305 AE Fellows from 77 countries worldwide.

At the local level, Zonta Bradford collaborated with BAHS guidance counselors Adria Hoover, Jason Blatchly and Cory Placer to select six senior girls who exemplify the determination and courage to excel in ways similar to young Amelia Earhart. The 2024 Amelia Earhart Award recipients are Azlyn Compton, Gracie Davis, Ebony Ford, Karleigh Major, Angelina Maletto and Elizabeth Wonderly.

These young women, their counselors and guests were treated to lunch at the Marilyn Horne Museum and Event Center at the Zonta Club Bradford meeting Wednesday. Each girl was presented with a Zonta yellow rose, an inspirational book and a certificate of honor by members of the Advocacy Committee: Ginny Crouse, Julie Kleinberger, Kathy Kresge, Linda Gault, Heidi Scrivo, Shelley Alcorn, Patti DeFrank, Cinda Roberts, Joy Carter and Emily Rhoades. Heidi Scrivo spoke to recipients, members and guests about the inspiring lessons Amelia demonstrated throughout her life promoting gender equality, attaining educational excellence and aiming high for a fulfilling career.

These two appropriate Amelia Earhart quotations affirm her passion for flight: “There is more to life than being a passenger” and “The most effective way to do it, is TO DO IT!”