Soroptimist International of Ceres, a volunteer organization for business and professional women, will present a $1,000 Women's Opportunity Award to help a Ceres woman improve her economic situation through additional education and training. The awards ceremony, to be held March 20 at Central Valley High School, will recognize Victoria Boyington as its 2013-14 Women's Opportunity Award recipient.

Boyington, 38, will use the case award to complete her special education/multiple subject credential from CSU Stanislaus and eventually an administrative credential. Once she completes her studies, Boyington hopes to become a learning director or director of special education in a school.

The Women's Opportunity Awards program is Soroptimist International of the Americas' major service project. Soroptimist International of Ceres is one of 1,300 clubs that make up Soroptimist International of the Americas, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The Women's Opportunity Awards program provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with the financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. The award may be used for tuition, books, childcare, transportation costs or any other education-related expense. This program, which begins on the club level, was created in 1972 to help women improve their ability to provide for their families. Each year more than $1.5 million is provided in cash grants to women in need. Since the program's inception in 1972, approximately $30 million in Women's Opportunity Awards has been disbursed to assist tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.

Boyington will now advance to the Soroptimist International Sierra Pacific Region level where one recipient will receive $5,000. The program culminates with three finalists and $10,000 in awards.