Soroptimist International of Los Banos Awards Programs

Soroptimist International of Los Banos
Awards Programs

The Annual Women's Recognition Banquet, held in May, is the highlight of the Club year. Monetary Awards given are supported by the club's local fund-raising events. Along with Soroptimist club members, the award winners attend the Banquet, as well as their friends and family members. Local dignitaries also attend honoring the various winners with official Proclamations.
Soroptimist International of Los Banos honors women and girls with the following Awards:
Women's Opportunity Award
The Women's Opportunity Award assists women who are heads of household, to obtain the skills, training and education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their families. Club winners can compete on the Sierra Pacific Region-level; Region winners can compete on the Soroptimist International of the Americas level.

Violet Richardson Award
The Violet Richardson Award honors young women between the ages of 14 and 17, who make the community and the world a better place through volunteer efforts such as: fighting drugs, crime and violence; cleaning up the environment; and working to end discrimination and poverty. Volunteer action that benefit women or girls are of particular interest. The winner is honored on the club level as well as her volunteer group. Local club winners can also compete on the Sierra Pacific Region-level; Region winners can compete on the Soroptimist International of the Americas-level.

Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women
Formerly the Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award, the newly-named Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women recognizes and honors the first SIA Federation President, Ruby Lee Minar. A ruby is also a deep red gemstone associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power and love: all words embodying the strong and compassionate women who are our award recipients. The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work. The program begins at the local level where clubs recognize a woman in their community. Clubs submit their entry to the region-level where the region selects a woman to honor at the region conference. At the SIA federation-level, one woman is selected to receive a $5,000 donation to her favorite charitable organization. Click here for more information about this award:
Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women *
* http://www.soroptimist.org/members/program/programhome.html

Women of Distinction Award
This local club award is given to a woman who has made outstanding achievements in her professional, business, or volunteer activities. This woman is an exemplary role model and has demonstrated character and integrity along with outstanding abilities and has demonstrated leadership abilities. For more information email: silosbanos@pacbell.net

June Erreca Award
This local club award is given to a high school girl student who demonstrates good citizenship and the spirit of volunteerism that reflects the life of our club member June Erreca. June is a past Governor of the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region, past Soroptimist International of the America's Federation Board-member, and past President of Soroptimist International of Los Banos(4 times).
For more information email: silosbanos@pacbell.net

Local Club Scholarships
Scholarship Awards are given annually to graduating seniors at Los Banos High School, San Luis High School, and Merced College,Los Banos. Students must show proof of college registration with a minimum of 12 units registered. Dollar amounts for these scholarships are determined by Soroptimist International of Los Banos on an annual basis. For more information email: silosbanos@soroptimist.net

Student of the Month Award
Soroptimist International of Los Banos honors one Student of the Month, each month, during the High School year. These students have been recommended for this award by high school teachers and counselors. The students have demonstrated good citizenship along with good scholarship and are Seniors attending either Los Banos High School or San Luis High School.
Each month the winner, along with their parents or guardians, are invited as guests to attend one of SI of Los Banos' luncheon meetings. The student is invited to share a brief synopsis of their school studies, volunteer & extra curricular activities. The student also shares future career aspirations and college plans. These students always inspire our local club members!

Soroptimist of the Year Award
The winner of this Award has participated fully in support of the work of Soroptimist International of Los Banos. Club members submit to the club's Board, names of members who have given above and beyond, in club service. From the names submitted, the Board chooses one member to be honored as "Soroptimist of the Year."

Improving the lives of women and girls
in local communities and throughout the world.