Point Foundation awards 45 college scholarships to LGBTQ scholars
Scholarships enable LGBTQ students, particularly those of historically marginalized identities, to further their educational goals
Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students, has awarded 45 scholarships to deserving students seeking to further their education.
Twenty were chosen as Point Scholars, receiving money to attend four-year colleges, and 25 students will receive scholarships to attend community colleges.
This year’s recipients include LGBTQ rights and social justice advocates, promising scientists and medical students, and students who plan to major in law, finance, and liberal arts. In addition to the academic success they’ve demonstrated, several scholarship recipients have personal stories of overcoming adversity, including discrimination, issues related to their immigration status, homelessness, family rejection, and abuse.
During the 2018-2019, there will be 98 LGBTQ students receiving financial support from Point as they pursue their associate, bachelor’s, or advanced degrees. Current scholars and several alumni will gather in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., for Point’s National Leadership Conference in July.
Point is also proud of the diversity within its Scholar and Community College Scholarship classes, noting that more than 70% of both sub-groups are people of color or multiracial. Nearly two-thirds identify as something other than male, and more than 40% identify as transgender or gender-nonconforming. According to statistic from Point, 55% of Scholars and 64% of Community College recipients identify as bisexual, polysexual, or queer. About one-third of Point Scholars are first-generation college students. That number rises to 56% among Community College Scholarship recipients.
“Point’s diverse class of scholarship recipients give us hope and make us proud,” Jorge Valencia, the executive director and CEO of Point Foundation, said in a statement. “These young leaders are determined to make our nation and our world a much better place than it is today. Point is incredibly grateful to the people and companies that support our work and make these opportunities possible for our scholars.”
For a complete list and biographies of scholarship recipients, or for more information on the Point Foundation, visit pointfoundation.org/meet.
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