CHEYENNE, WYOMING – Zonta Club of Cheyenne is proud to present its Young Women in Public Affairs Award to Kylie Schelhaas. The $1,500 award is offered to recognize a young woman’s commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements, and a dedication to the empowerment of women.
Ms. Schelhaas, currently a junior at East High School, has been contributing to the community for more than half her life, starting with fundraising at her elementary school at the age of nine. Her dedication to helping others has grown exponentially since then, as have her leadership skills and her love of learning. She has attended several leadership camps and academies through Rotary International and 4-H. She has held officer positions in the East High Interact Club, the Frontier Future Farmers of America Club, and her 4-H Club while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and playing in the concert, jazz, and marching bands. “Those are just a few of the extra-curricular activities she has taken on,” stated Jennica Fournier, the Scholarship Chair for the Zonta Club of Cheyenne. “The list of activities she is involved with are almost too many to mention. She is an amazing young woman. We are proud to recognize her leadership skills and her devotion to others not only in her local community but also through the impact that some of the Interact Club projects have had helping young women around the world.”
Ms. Schelhaas’ real extra-curricular passion is shooting sports. She currently teaches beginner shooting sports classes. “I make a point of encouraging the young women I shoot with, as most believe that shooting is a male dominated sport,” Schelhaas stated in her application for the award. “I find it extremely important to not only empower those on my team, but to also encourage my team to own their femininity on the range and instill confidence in ourselves as females.” Her tradition of having the members of her shooting team wear bows in their hair to show that shooting is not a man’s sport, but a co-ed sport, has been noted by the shooting community throughout the nation. “I teach my female students in the beginner class to pursue shooting no matter what anyone says, not only by my actions but also through verbal affirmation of their talent and skills,” Schelhaas stated.
Ms. Schelhaas intends to put the monetary award into her college fund. Her goal is to study the sciences and become a secondary school science teacher. She also hopes to continue her role as a leader in 4-H shooting sports and to serve as a sponsor for a school Interact Club, as both organizations have been very influential in her life.
Her Young Women in Public Affairs will be submitted to the Zonta District 12 scholarship committee where she will compete with other local award recipients for an additional cash award of $1,500.