‘Best and brightest’ gay students awarded scholarships
Gay support group The Point Foundation has today granted 30 scholarships to outstanding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.
The Point Foundation, which provides financial support, mentoring and hope to meritorious students who are marginalised because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, awards around $30,000 of funding, mentoring and leadership training to each individual recipient.
“Our newest Point Scholars represent the best and brightest in our community, coming from diverse educational fields, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, racial backgrounds, economic circumstances and geography,” said Bruce Lindstrom, Point Foundation founder and chair of the board of directors.
“Our scholars are chosen for their demonstrated leadership, scholastic achievement, involvement in the LGBT community, and financial need. This year’s group of scholars far exceeded our expectations.”
Several major foundations and corporations have partnered with Point to fund LGBT students, including the Matthew Shepard Foundation (MSF) and MTV. Ivan Bukta, a student at the City College of New York, was chosen as the MTVU Scholar. MSF will fund Ellen Adams, an incoming freshman at Princeton, Matt Oertli, a student at Harvard Medical School, and Jennifer Wohlner, a Studio Art major at the University of Southern California.
“The Foundation is extremely proud to support Ellen, Matt and Jennifer in their studies and honour my son Matthew’s life in this way.” said Judy Shepard, executive director of MSF. “It is clear to me that these three leaders will go on to make the world a better place for all of us.”
In addition to financial support, The Point Foundation matches scholars with mentors who are highly successful professionals in fields ranging from the arts and sciences, education and other humanities, to business, law and medicine.
