I Heart Oswego - Zonta Sponsors Golden Z Club at SUNY Oswego

Friday, 31 March 2023 15:14

Zonta Sponsors Golden Z Club at SUNY Oswego

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The Zonta Club of Oswego held a chartering ceremony on March 28, 2023 for the new SUNY Oswego Golden Z club. Fifteen of the Golden Z club’s 24 members were in attendance. In the front from left are Gabriela Barrera, Kyoko Miyake, Jeelah Turner-Cephus, Olivia Odigie, Naomi Ellis and Ahkalia Williams. In the back from left are Elena Davis, Cheyla Villa, Jamal Akin-Tukur, Samoya Drysdale, Liz Tesiero (Zonta District 2 Governor), Favour Atiri, Safia Francis, Hanna Seyoum, Lakpa Sherpa, Christina Seado Vasquez and Kate Donaghue Submitted photo

The Zonta Club of Oswego recently held a ceremony at the Oswego Country Club to charter the new Golden Z Club at SUNY Oswego.

Golden Z clubs share the ideals of Zonta, which include achieving gender equality and ending violence against women.

“We are thrilled to partner with the student-run club and introduce Golden Z Club members to all that Zonta has to offer,” says Iraina Gerchman, President of the Zonta Club of Oswego. “We’re also excited to dialogue with the students and learn from them. Understanding the perspectives of young people and the challenges they face is important to us.”

Creation of the club was the work of Zonta Club of Oswego member, Christina Seado Vasquez, EdD. Dr. Vasquez directs the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) at SUNY Oswego. As a strong student advocate, Dr. Vasquez felt a Golden Z club might be a good fit for some of the students she worked with on campus.

Earlier this semester, Dr. Vasquez mentioned the idea to Olivia Odigie, who would become the Golden Z Club’s first president. Odigie shared the information with her friends and word spread quickly. When it seemed there was enough interest, Dr. Vasquez and the Zonta Club of Oswego petitioned Zonta International to start the Golden Z Club.

Approval came quickly from Zonta International and SUNY Oswego’s Student Association, and the Golden Z club held its first meeting Friday, March 24. “I’m so proud of these students and am looking forward to serving as their advisor,” says Dr. Vasquez.

Golden Z clubs are excellent opportunities for students to learn leadership skills and develop service projects on campus and in the community. Odigie and club members have many ideas and will be charting their course forward over the next few months so they can start strong next semester.

“We would love to raise money for Oswego County Opportunities’ domestic violence program, Services to Aid Families (SAF),” says Odigie. “We’re also thinking about ways to empower our members. A top priority for us is building a strong club that will last in the future.”

The Zonta Club of Oswego is a leading service organization in the Oswego community. Zonta members are caring, strong and passionate about creating a more equitable society. For more information, visit the Zonta Club of Oswego Facebook page or email Iraina Gerchman at [email protected].