The Women's Opportunity Award is a program of Soroptimist International of the Americas. Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Local clubs are now accepting applications.

The Women's Opportunity Award is for women with primary financial responsibility for supporting their family who attend or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.

The deadline for submitting the application is Dec. 15. Application forms are available at the Financial Aid Office-Peninsula College (www.pc.ctc.edu/financialresources/default.asp), Peninsula College Extension-Forks and Peninsula College Extension-Port Townsend.

The cash award may be used to offset any costs associated with efforts to attain higher education including books, child care and transportation. The monetary amount for this award is $1,000.

Contact one of the following Soroptimist members in your local community if you have an interest and/or questions concerning application for the Women's Opportunity Award\: Wendy Shea, 452-4045; or Jill Oakes, 417-3012 (www.sijetset.com) in Port Angeles; Debbie Scannell, 360-374-3223 in Forks; Betty Osborn, 683-7649 (woa@sisequim.org) in Sequim; and Pat Durbin, 360-379-4956 (www.soroptimistpt.org) in Port Townsend.