Scholarships improve LGBTQ students’ lives

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students seeking financial assistance for their undergraduate or graduate school education are encouraged to apply for a Point Foundation Scholarship. Students enrolling in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2017-2018 academic year are eligible to apply for Point’s multiyear scholarship.

Applications open online at www.pointfoundation.org/apply on November 1, 2016.

Students may submit the application until 11:59 p.m. PST January 30, 2017. A short application FAQ video is available online. Additional FAQs may also be found on our website.

“Students struggle with the cost of college, but LGBTQ students also face the additional challenges of bullying, harassment and often lack family support,” said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Point Foundation. “These same young people often look toward going to college as a way to overcome their difficulties and succeed despite the adversity they face. Point Foundation exists to help turn their dreams of higher education as the means for personal and professional growth into a reality.”

Point Foundation (Point) is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit and currently provides financial assistance and programmatic support to 84 students. Point’s scholarship support addresses the particular challenge LGBTQ students face paying for college: 83 percent of LGBTQ students are using their own money for school, compared to 53 percent of all first-year college students. Even then, about 70 percent of LGBTQ students need financial assistance to start school, compared to 44 percent of all first-year students.

The selection process for awarding Point Foundation Scholarships requires candidates to demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and community involvement. Attention is given to applicants who lost financial and social support as a result of revealing their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Once selected, each scholar is paired with a mentor and participates in leadership development training with fellow Point Scholars. Point Scholars also give back to the LGBTQ community by completing an individual community service project each year. After graduation, scholars become part of Point’s growing alumni network where they continue to be a vital part of Point’s events, conferences, and other activities.

“Point Foundation's resources and support help me make my voice heard as an active and proud member of my LGBTQ community,” said 2016 Point Scholar Hadden Kelley, who is studying Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Introductions to current Point Scholars are on Point’s YouTube channel. The activities and accomplishments of Point Scholars and Alumni are featured on the ViewPoint blog.

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About Point Foundation: Empowering promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society. For information, visit www.pointfoundation.org.

Copyright 2016 The Gayly - 11/1/2016 @ 7:55 a.m.