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LGBTQ Community College Students Benefit From Scholarships

  • 02/22/18

LOS ANGELES – Community colleges are an increasingly useful and affordable steppingstone for students beginning their college career. Point Foundation (Point) encourages lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community college students who are planning to transfer to a four-year degree program to apply for its Community College Scholarship Program.

Students accepted into the program receive a financial award, transfer coaching, and academic planning guidance at the Point Community College Transfer Symposium in Los Angeles, as well as access to the Point Foundation network of LGBTQ scholars and alumni. Profiles of Point's current Community College Scholarship recipients and application information are online at www.pointfoundation.org/communitycollege. Applications for scholarships will be accepted online starting March 1.

"Due to lack of familial and community support, LGBTQ students often come from resource-challenged backgrounds," says Jorge Valencia, executive director and chief executive officer of Point Foundation. "Many are also the first in their families to try and navigate a path to higher education. Moreover, right now the LGBTQ community is under attack from those who want to roll back important rights and protections we have fought hard to attain. So, it is imperative that these students have access to much needed financial support and academic guidance that will allow them to succeed in college and beyond."  

Point launched its Community College Scholarship in 2016 with pioneering support from longtime partner Wells Fargo. Point encourages other donors to support the program by funding a Community College Named Scholarship that recognizes and acknowledges a specific source, whether it be the donor, an individual, or institution they wish to honor. A Community College Named Scholarship represents a commitment of $8,000 over one year. Established Named Scholarships currently target students in Florida, California, and students participating in sports leagues.

Point will announce the 2018 class of Point Foundation Community College Scholarship recipients in June for LGBTQ Pride Month. Concurrently Point will also announce its 2018 class of Point Foundation Scholars (https://pointfoundation.org/point-apply/meet-our-scholars); a program of multi-faced support for LGBTQ students completing four-year and/or advanced degree programs.

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. Point Foundation is the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit and has awarded scholarships to almost 400 recipients since 2002. The Foundation promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development, and community service training.

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