LGBTQ* scholarships to be awarded for first time in fall 2016

Annaliese Levy

The University of Kentucky LGBTQ* Scholarship Endowment is offering its first annual scholarships to full-time students. Two scholarships will be awarded for fall 2016. At least one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded each year. These scholarships were made available through the donations of UK alumnae, Keisa and Amanda Fallin-Bennett.

“These scholarship are made possible through the gifts of two wonderful UK (alumnae) with the goal of supporting students in reaching their academic goals at UK,” said Lance Poston, director of LGBTQ* Resources at UK. “This enabled the Office of LGBTQ* Resources to give out scholarships in a sustainable way on an annual basis.”

To apply for this scholarship, applicants must submit a 400 to 600 word essay that discusses their diverse identities, two letters of recommendation and documentation of financial need. All applicants must be currently enrolled as full-time students at UK.

“We hope these scholarships will have a direct positive impact on our annual awardees by giving them extra financial support in their quest to achieve their academic goals at UK,” Poston said.

The UK Office of LGBTQ* Resources Scholarships and Awards Committee will choose the 2016 awardees in April. This committee is made up of four faculty members, one administrator and two alumni. Awardees will receive the scholarship funds at the beginning of the fall 2016 academic term.

“We hope that these scholarships raise the profile of UK’s relatively new Office of LGBTQ Resources and spread the word that we are here to support all UK students, faculty and staff,” Poston said.

The Office of LGBTQ* Resources will be accepting new applications each spring and will award the scholarship every fall. Students can apply for the scholarship by completing the application form found at the UK Office of LGBTQ* Resources’ website.

Applications for fall 2016 were due March 31 at 5 p.m.

If individuals would like to make a donation to help grow the number of scholarships offered each year, visit: www.uky.edu/GiveNow and select the Office of LGBTQ* Resources and designate the gift to the LGBTQ* Scholarship Gift Fund.