AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS

Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. The Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

You are eligible to apply if you are a woman who:

• Provides the primary financial support for yourself and your dependents. Dependents can include children, spouse, partner, siblings and/or parents.
• Has financial need.
• Is enrolled in or has been accepted to a vocational/skills training program, high school equivalency or an undergraduate degree program.
• Is motivated to achieve your education and career goals.
• Resides in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries/territories (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Guam, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, United States of America, Venezuela).
• Has not previously been the recipient of a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity or Live Your Dream Award.
• Does not have a graduate degree and is not enrolled in a graduate degree program.
• Is not a Soroptimist member, an employee of Soroptimist International of the Americas or immediate family of either.
• Agree to write your essays in your own words, without the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

The Violet Richardson Award honors young women between the ages of 14 and 18 for volunteer action such as fighting drugs, crime and violence, cleaning up the environment and working to end discrimination and poverty.

The award is named after Violet Richardson, the president of the first Soroptimist club in Alameda County in 1921. Richardson believed in personal responsibility and the motto, “It's what you do that counts.” She lived her life accordingly, as an active member in her community who was committed to creating opportunities for girls and young women. Soroptimist established this award to honor the memory of this unique woman and her dedication to volunteer action.

Who is the Violet Richardson Award Honoree?
• A young woman who is caring, compassionate, creative and most of all committed to making the world a better place.
• A young woman who has demonstrated leadership and initiative in both identifying a problem and in trying to solve it. Taking a first step in making a difference in the world shows both leadership and initiative.
• A young woman who has had significant and noteworthy accomplishments as a volunteer.

Eligibility
• Applicants must be young women 14 to 18 years of age.
• Applicants must be engaged in volunteer activity.

What is a Ruby? A GEM!
Precisely what your club’s choice for a “Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women” recipient is...a gem!

This award honors non-Soroptimist women who are making extraordinary efforts on behalf of other women. This award gives the club and the entire organization the opportunity to say “thank you” and encourage others to explore ways to assist women.

The Soroptimist Ruby Award recipient should be a woman who:

• Has worked to improve the lives of women and girls;
• Has had a significant impact on the lives of women and girls;
• Inspires and encourages other women.

Eligibility 

•  A woman in the community who is improving the lives of women or girls through her professional or personal life. 
• By identifying and focusing on a need of women and girls, this woman has   contributed to the improvement of their lives. 
• Although clubs may honor a woman for a lifetime of good work, the majority of the work should have occurred within the past two years.

Deadline for nominations to clubs is December 1 of each year.
Nomination Form

Previous award winners, Soroptimists, immediate family of Soroptimists and employees of
Soroptimist are not eligible for the award. Immediate family is defined to include parents,
 siblings or children by adoption, blood or marriage.

Soroptimist International of Arcata has been offering scholarships to local students for 68 years!
Our signature service project is our scholarship program for graduating high school seniors who are continuing their education at a junior college, 4-year college or university, or vocational school.
Our scholarship program was established in 1956.  It was originally an annual scholarship of $50 for a female P.E. student attending Humboldt State College.  The program was administered by the Humboldt State Financial Aid Office who selected the student and disbursed the funds.
In 1977, the scholarship criteria and focus changed.  The amount designated for this scholarship became $300 and was awarded to a graduate of Arcata or McKinleyville High School who was attending Humboldt State.

The scholarship continued to grow until, in 1989, it totaled $1,000 and was awarded to an HSU junior or senior who graduated from Arcata or McKinleyville High schools.

2024 Awardees:  Alexandria Morse- Violet Richardson Award,
Ruby Jordan &  Jasmine McKnight - Soroptimist Scholarship Awardees 

In 1991 the scholarship program again underwent a transformation.  Our Soroptimist club chose to administer the program internally; the amount was increased to $1,500; and the recipient was to be a graduating senior from either Arcata or McKinleyville High schools and entering a junior college, 4- year college or university, or vocational school.

In 1994, in honor of our charter president, the scholarship was named the Cynthia Schwenson Scholarship was named the Cynthia Schwenson Scholarship.

Since 1995, this program has been funded entirely by our annual scholarship tea.  The amount awarded has continually increased over the years.  Currently, Soroptimist International of Arcata selects two graduating seniors from the Northern Humboldt Union High School District which includes Arcata High School, McKinleyville High School and various charter schools within the district. These students plan to continue their education locally or elsewhere.   Our club also offers a scholarship to a local student other than a first-year freshman attending Humboldt State University.  To date, we have awarded in excess of $119,000. While high academics and citizenship qualities are factors, the main emphasis of this scholarship is financial need and a true desire for further education.

APPLICATION PERIOD IS JANUARY 1 - MID-MARCH