LOS ANGELES, June 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Point Foundation
(Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students,
today announced its 2019 scholarship recipients. The students
receiving support from Point this year make up a group of
passionate activists, ready and willing to fight for progress in
the face of an increasing lack of support for LGBTQ people at the
highest levels of government. 16 LGBTQ students were chosen to be
Point Scholars from more than 2,100 applicants. Point is also
welcoming 25 LGBTQ students to its Community College Scholarship
Program.
Point's scholarship recipients are talented students with a
proven track record of challenging unjust laws and policies,
offering guidance to future generations, and using artistry to
combat long-lasting discrimination. In addition to their fearless
leadership, they have battled obstacles including immigration
status, homelessness, family rejection, and abuse. Each one of them
has the dedication and resilience to inspire change across the
country.
A complete list of scholarship recipients appears below; bios
for each are available on Point's website,
www.pointfoundation.org/meet.
"These LGBTQ students have demonstrated the potential to be the
informed and visionary leaders our society needs right now," said
Jorge Valencia, Executive
Director and Chief Executive Officer of Point Foundation. "Their
dedication to making the world around them a better place provides
our community with the promise of a better future. Point is
grateful to the incredible people and companies whose support
relieves the crushing burden of financing education and presents
our scholars with a new world of opportunity."
In the 2019–2020 academic year, 85 LGBTQ students will receive
financial assistance and programmatic support from Point as they
pursue their associate, bachelor's, or advanced degrees. After
graduating, students become part of Point's growing alumni network,
connecting them with hundreds of caring individuals and
professional contacts throughout the nation. These connections and
experiences help to shape the leaders who will go on to defend and
advance the rights of LGBTQ people and create a more inclusive,
equitable society.
Notable facts about the 2019 Point Scholar class:
- 69% identify as people of color or bi/multiracial.
- 32% identify as transgender or gender nonconforming.
- 38% are first-generation college students.
Notable facts about the 2019 Community College Scholarship
recipients:
- 64% identify as people of color or bi/multiracial.
- 48% identify as transgender or gender nonconforming.
- 52% are first-generation students.
Individuals, corporations, and organizations can support Point's
mission by designating a scholarship with a "Name," which
recognizes the donor, an individual, or an institution. Named
Scholarship donors pledge to cover the financial assistance and
programmatic support Point provides its scholars.
Named Scholarships for Point Scholars are generously being
supported by: Anonymous; Arnold
Schwab; Barbara Epstein Foundation; Barbey; CAA; Calamus
Foundation; FedEx; Fry-Garatea Family; George Benes, MD; HBO; Herb Hamsher; HSBC; Janssen Infectious Diseases;
Jeff Ogle & Jeff Stearns; John M.
Deciccio; Kevin Hummer;
Minton-Spidell-Jackowski; NBCUniversal; Novo Nordisk; Patti Sue Mathis; Rand
Skolnick; Stacy R. Friedman;
Took Trust; Toyota; ViiV Healthcare; Walter
M. Decker; Wells Fargo; William J.
Levy.
Named Scholarships for Community College Scholarships are
generously being supported by: Big Apple Recreational Sports;
Bryan Fitzgerald; CarGurus;
Donald Cummins; Equality Florida;
John Hancock; Miami Beach Pride;
Terry Longmore.
The 2019 Point Scholars, including their hometown, area of
study, degree, school, and Named Scholarship (where applicable) are
as follows:
- William Campillo Terrazas;
Phoenix, AZ; Pharmacy; MD;
University of Texas at El Paso; Janssen
Infectious Diseases Scholar
- Kyle Casteel; Indianapolis, IN; Policy Studies and Global
and International Studies; BA and BS; Indiana
University – Purdue University
Indianapolis
- Vivienne Cho; Florence, AL; Music Performance and Education;
BM; University of North Alabama; Patti
Sue Mathis Scholar
- Daniel Egol; Briarcliff Manor, NY; Business; MBA; Yale
School of Management
- Elizabeth Rose Elrod;
Stout, OH; Music Therapy; MB;
Ohio University - Athens
- Reeves Gift; Bowie, MD;
Cinema; BA; University of Southern
California; CAA Scholar
- Nolan Golden; Houston, TX; Anthropology and Gender/Queer
Studies; BA; University of California, San
Diego; Jeff Ogle & Jeff
Stearns Scholar
- Kirin Gupta; Oakton, VA; International Law and Legal
History; JD/PhD; Harvard Law School;
Walter M. Decker Scholar
- Tayler Hammond; Brentwood, CA; Criminology; Undecided; BA
- Rachel Harwood; Spokane, WA; Biochemistry and Comparative
Religion; BS; University of
Washington
- Kai Huang; San Jose, CA; Psychobiology; BS; University of California, Los Angeles
- Timothy S. Jones II;
New Haven, CT; Theater and
Performance Studies; EdD/PhD; Stanford
University; Calamus Foundation Scholar
- James Lee; Olympia, WA; Child and Adolescent Psychiatry;
MD; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine; ViiV Healthcare
Scholar
- Andrew Ntim; Zion, IL; Law; JD; Yale Law School; FedEx
Scholar
- Bianca Nunez; Laredo, TX; Aerospace Engineering; BS;
University of Texas at Austin; Wells
Fargo Scholar
- Gabby Sergi; Danville, CA;
Law; JD; University of California, Hastings
College of Law
The 2019 recipients of the Point Community College
Scholarship, including their area of study, school, and Named
Scholarship (where applicable) are as follows:
- Mohamad Al Khen; Electric
Engineering; Richland College
- Christos Anastasopoulos; Liberal
Arts; Borough of Manhattan
Community College
- Gigi Andrews; Psychology;
Grossmont College
- Jasper Benner; Psychology;
Cosumnes River College
- Jasz Cabrera; Arts/Technical Theater; Grossmont College; Big Apple Recreational Sports
Scholarship
- Karin Carrillo; Nursing;
Seattle Central Community College
- Andreas Copes; Mass Media;
Community College of Philadelphia;
CarGurus Scholarship
- Alan Cruz; Criminal Justice;
College of Southern Nevada
- Stephen Davis; Nusing;
Malcolm X College
- Emily Greenlee; Theater and
Acting; Diablo Valley College
- Kenmel Guzman; STEM; Miami Dade College; Miami Beach Pride
Scholarship
- Sophia Jimenez; Nursing;
San Jacinto Community College
- Jack Jordan; Social Work;
Broward Community College; Equality
Florida Scholarship
- Noéh Juarez; Anthropology; Fullerton
College
- Maddie Klementyn; Electrical and Computer Engineering;
Portland Community College
- Olive McGuire; Women and Gender
Studies; Pasco-Hernando State
College
- Rodrigo Mendez; Psychology; Palm
Beach State College; Donald Cummins Scholarship
- Elise Oleksiak; Occupational
Therapy; LaGuardia Community College
- Ammo Rayne; Theater Arts;
Fullerton College
- Ash Tebar; Liberal Arts; Bronx Community
College
- Izzy Thomas; Civil/Environmental
Engineering; Pasadena City College
- Daniel Trovato; Criminal
Justice; Community College of Baltimore
County
- Jaime Truzman; Hospitality
Management; Santa Fe College; Terry
Longmore Scholarship
- Luis Verbera; Business
Administration; West Valley College;
John Hancock Scholarship
- Gabrielle Zwi; Political Science
and Music; Montgomery College; Bryan
Fitzgerald Scholarship
About Point Foundation
Point Foundation empowers
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. Since 2002, Point has
awarded more than 400 scholarships, making it the nation's largest
scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit.
Point Foundation promotes change through scholarship funding,
mentorship, leadership development and community service
training.
pointfoundation.org | facebook.com/pointfoundation |
twitter.com/pointfoundation |
instagram.com/pointfoundation
Media Contact: Jessica Rozycki
914.776.4163
jessica@pointfoundation.org
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SOURCE Point Foundation