Point Foundation, the nation’s most prominent scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students, has announced its 2017 scholarship recipients.
From more than 2,000 applicants, 27 LGBTQ students were chosen to be Point Scholars. The Point Foundation is also welcoming 25 LGBTQ students to its expanded Community College Scholarship Program.
Together, the 52 scholarship recipients are the largest and most diverse group in the organization’s history.
2017 scholarship recipients include artists, activists, community workers and armed forces veterans.
Many of the recipients have overcome significant obstacles such as immigration, abuse, and homelessness. Many of them are the first in their families to pursue higher education. Of the 2017 Point Scholar class, two-thirds identify as a racial or ethnic group other than white and nearly half identify as transgender, intersex or gender nonconforming.
Of the 2017 Community College Scholarship recipients nearly half identify as transgender, gender-nonconforming, or intersex, and one-third identify as bisexual, polysexual or queer.
“Given the volatile political climate and its implications for trans rights, immigrant rights, gender issues, and civil liberties, it is essential that we continue to invest in the next generation of LGBTQ leaders,” said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Point Foundation. “By helping them to access the higher education they need to succeed, we can assure promising LGBTQ students are poised to become the change makers we so desperately need.”
Individuals, corporations, and organizations can support Point’s mission by designating a scholarship with a “Name,” recognizing the donor, or an individual or institution the donor wishes to honor. Named Scholarship donors pledge $100,000 over four years to cover the financial assistance, and programmatic support Point provides its scholars.