Ann Horrocks STEM Award

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

Girls and women are significantly underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, despite progress in recent years. The scholarship will support a women who is entering a STEM degree at university.

The Award is named after a role model from our own Club. Ann Horrocks has been a member of Bendigo Zonta since 1988. During this time she has distinguished herself in Zonta Service at the local, national and international levels.

Ann has been Bendigo Club President on two occasions, an Area 4 (country Victoria) Director, member of the Board of District 23 (covering 5 Australian States), Governor of District 23 and was Vice Chair of the International Nominating Committee and a member of the Zonta International Development Committee.

Ann studied Applied Chemistry at RMIT and worked in the food industry at the Kraft Foods Research Laboratories. After a number of years out of the workforce for family reasons and following her move to Bendigo, she began working at ADI (now Thales). Since retiring, Ann has spent her time visiting and supporting Zonta clubs.

“I think that every woman has the right to reach her full potential and Zonta supports raising awareness in situations where women are not seen to have equal rights,” she says. I enjoy Zonta for the support you are able to give women, and I also enjoy the fun and fellowship it offers.

Eligibility
The Award will be made to an eligible female who:

Has completed Year 12 at a Central Victorian secondary school or TAFE entry qualification and has been accepted into a degree* in science, technology, engineering or mathematics

Is an Australian citizen
Has a commitment to volunteerism and the ideals of Zonta.

*The degree can be undertaken at any Australian University.

Application
Complete the application form available below
Submit the application by email by the deadline stated on the Application form. (20th February 2026).
Provide the declaration, verification and recommendations as requested on the application form.

Selection
The Zonta Bendigo nominates an evaluation panel to assess the applications and shortlist applicants for an interview if required, beore selecting a winner.

Award Money
The recipient of the Ann Horrocks STEM Award, will be notified ahead of our International Women's Day Dinner, held annually on the first Tuesday of March.
Cost of attending the dinner, for the recipient, is covered by the club, guests are welcome to attend at the ticketed price.

The Ann Horrocks STEM Scholarship is merit based and valued at $1,500. It will be awarded upon evidence that the female applicant has enrolled to commence their first year of a tertiary STEM course. The winner may receive scholarship support for a second year of her degree upon evidence of satisfactory progress in the first year of the scholarship.

Past Ann Horrocks STEM Award Recipients:-
2024 & 2025 - Caitlin Goodwin-Keune
2022 & 2023 - Evie C (bottom left)
2020 & 2021 - Eva J (top left)
2018 & 2019 - Teagan C
2016 & 2017 - Bree M