The Zonta Club of the Coos Bay Area is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of $27,500 in scholarship funds.

Kyla Bailey-Wilson from North Bend, Oregon received two prestigious awards. The first is the $20,000 Patty J. Barton Memorial Scholarship and the second is a $3,000 Memorial non-traditional club scholarship. Patty J. Barton was a long time Zonta member with a passion for women choosing to face their life’s challenges by improving their status through education. Kyla Bailey-Wilson exemplifies these qualities and goals. Through our club fundraising efforts, we have been able to grow and now use the funds to honor Patty with this award that will support Kyla in her pursuit of an accounting degree from Eastern Oregon University. The second scholarship for non- traditional students is for women returning to school after a break. Kyla is not only a full-time student, but also a full-time mom and community volunteer. Her goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant. Kyla wants to set the example for her children that perseverance and hard work leads to success.

Avery Pex from North Bend, Oregon received the $3,000 STEM club scholarship and $1,500 Young Women in Leadership Award. These are both progressive awards from Zonta International and allow Avery to compete nationally to receive an additional $10,000. for STEM and $5,000. for Young Women in Leadership award at the district level. The STEM award is given for Scientific Technical, Engineering & Mathematics fields of study. Avery is an honor student completing an undergraduate thesis. Her thesis required study of “Antibiotic Resistance in Environmental E. coli in Mary’s Creek”. Avery received the Young Women in Leadership Award for serving as a role model and advocate for younger female students and her many volunteer roles in the community. Avery is currently in her third year at Oregon State University, working on her biology and pre veterinary studies. Her goal is to become a veterinarian.

Both recipients will be honored at an upcoming Zonta club meeting. Zonta Coos Bay Area members are proud to support the educational goals of our scholarship recipients. For more information about Zonta or to contribute to the scholarship fund visit www.zontacoosbayarea.org.