Club Vice President Michelle Woodfork was announced as the 2014-15 Zontian of the Year award winner from Zonta Club of SCV at the club’s recent awards program, although a family emergency prevented her from being at the event to accept the award in person. The award represents not only outstanding service to the club, but also a member who represents the club well in the community.

Woodfork was nominated for the honor by four Zontians and was selected from a field of six nominees by a committee composed of former Zontian of the Year honorees. Several of the nominees received multiple nominations, and many of the nominees were well qualified for the honor, according to committee chair Pat Willett.

A member since 2009, Woodfork was elected first vice president of programs for 2014-15 and is currently the club’s acting second vice president for membership. She is a past secretary and in-house fundraising chair for the club and has served on a number of Zonta committees, including the vital Tribute and Lunafest fundraising committees. She also is a trustee of the Zonta Club of SCV Foundation.

“Michelle is interested in being on the District 9 Membership Committee and learning all she can about our organization,” reads one of her nominations. “She cannot say ‘no,’ and always brings a professional face with a winning smile to each meeting,”

In the community, Woodfork is an active member of the Saugus High School Boosters Club, assists Single Mothers Outreach, and participates in Zonta’s LifeForward workshops for women. She balances her many Zonta and community obligations with her demanding work as a mortgage loan processor and her family, consisting of husband Rod and their sons.

“I cannot think of another Zontian who perfectly fits the word ‘outstanding’ better than Michelle,” reads another nomination. “She simply pours herself into any task assigned to her. She’s not only thoroughly reliable, but extremely competent.”

Although the award was announced at Zonta’s special awards ceremony in May, the actual award was presented at the club’s business meeting in June.

The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley is a member of Zonta International, a global organization of executive and professional women, working together to improve the lives of women through, service, advocacy and awareness.  Our mission encompasses a broad range of both local service projects and international service projects.  The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley, founded in 1974, is a dynamic organization of more than 70 members, who represent the core of community volunteers in the Santa Clarita Valley.