Today it’s my pleasure to introduce you to our 2021 Pride Foundation Scholars—95 incredible LGBTQ+ student leaders from across the Northwest who we are so proud to support along their educational journeys.
These scholars aren’t just learning and leading in normal times—they’re showing up for their educations, their futures, and their communities during a global pandemic, and in the midst of heightened movements for equity and racial justice. Through virtual schooling, immense loss, and so many other challenges, these scholars—and all of our applicants—are showing just what they are made of every single day.
This year we’ve witnessed incredible generosity from you, our supporters, which allowed us to award the greatest total amount in Pride Foundation Scholarship history: $601,000. We also raised our minimum award amount this year so that every single student received at least $5,000.
Here are a few words from two of our 2021 Pride Foundation Scholars:
Jenny Irene Miller: “I envision a future where I will have the opportunity to teach photography in rural and urban communities, with a focus on mentoring aspiring Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ artists. I hope to teach art at an Alaska-based university and to give back to the Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ communities that have taught me so much.”
Emilie Loran: “I believe that as a psychologist focusing on LGBTQ2+ issues and oppression, through my clinical work and research I can have a positive effect on the LGBTQ2+ community. I hope to help promote social justice, promote better therapy practices for LGBTQ2+ individuals, and conduct research that adds to the awareness of just how oppression affects individuals, and what we need to do fight those effects.”
Please take a moment to read more about all of our current scholars!
All of us at Pride Foundation congratulate this new cohort of Scholars! While we may be the ones who get to award the scholarships, these awards are our entire community’s to give—every dollar and every feeling of warmth, love, and support that our Scholars receive comes from a community that takes care of one another in good times and in hard. Thank you.
Jeremiah J. Allen is Pride Foundation’s Director of Programs and Strategy.