Zonta Club of Hilo Barbra An Pleadwell Scholarship applications now available

Applications for the 2026 Barbra An Pleadwell Scholarship are now available from the Zonta Club of Hilo.

The Barbra An Pleadwell Scholarship is for Hawai‘i Island or O‘ahu women and girls enrolled as full-time students at a college or university and high school seniors.

Preference is given to women’s studies and/or communications majors, who demonstrate financial need.

Two scholarship winners are awarded annually, each receiving $2,500.

Those who apply are asked about their academic interests and vocational plans, especially after graduation, as well as other community service activities, extracurricular interests and hobbies.

The application can be found at the Zonta Club of Hilo website. Deadline to apply is March 1.

Donations made in the memory of the late Barbara An Pleadwell — a passionate advocate for women and dedicated mentor to those seeking new opportunities and second chances — led to the creation of the scholarship, which was first awarded in 2022.

“We encourage female students of all ages to apply for this memorial scholarship,” said Zonta Club of Hilo President Laurie Higashi in announcing the scholarship application period.

Pleadwell co-founded public relations firm Hastings & Pleadwell and was a trailblazer in her field — one of the first professionals featured in Hawai’i Business magazine’s “Twenty for the Next 30,” plus part of the inaugural Pacific Business News “Forty Under 40.”

She and her business partner Barbara Hastings in 2007 received the U.S. Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion Award for Hawai’i and Region IX.

Zonta Club of Hilo is a member of Zonta International. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to build a better world for women and girls.

Visit the Zonta Club of Hilo website for additional information about this and other scholarships offered by the club.