The Sylvia Whitlock Award is an honor given annually by Rotary International to a Rotary member who actively contributes to the advancement of women in Rotary. This award is named after Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, the first female Rotary club president. In 1987, she served as president of the Rotary Club of Duarte, California, and led efforts to promote women’s participation in Rotary worldwide.
The award was created in 2017 by a group of Rotarians and became an official RI award in 2021. Nominations are accepted each year from August 1 to August 31. Any Rotary member in good standing, regardless of gender or length of membership, can be nominated.
This award aims to promote female leadership in Rotary and strengthen the role of women in the organization. As Magic Team, we are delighted to share that D2440 PDG Ayda Özeren has been honored with the Sylvia Whitlock Award for the 2024-25 Rotary year.