University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Scholarships

University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Alumni Society Scholarships are gay and lesbian scholarships for the LGBT student who will be attending the U of M.

 

U of M lesbian and scholarships
University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Scholarships

If you will be attending the University of Michigan, or you are already a student at this school, and you are lesbian or gay, you need to be aware of the University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Alumni Society Scholarships that are available. Although these gay and lesbian scholarships do not award huge amounts of funds, they are still important, and very competitive.

The University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Alumni Society is not the same as the University of Michigan Alumni Association. These are two separate organizations. The University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Alumni Society was established for the purpose of creating a supportive and positive environment for LGBT students and their allies at the University of Michigan. Equally, the organization also strives to eliminate discrimination and homophobia that is directed towards the LGBT community on campus and elsewhere.

The University of Michigan Gay and Lesbian Alumni Society does not just exist for past students, it also exists for present students, faculty, and other staff at the University who are also a part of the LGBT community.

The UMGALAS offers two gay and lesbian scholarships each year. The first is the Detroit Eagle Gay Community Award, and the second is the Jim Toy Award. The Detroit Eagle Gay Community Award was created by Frank Blondale. The Jim Toy Award was created for the purpose of honoring Jim Toy for twenty four years of service to the LGBT community as one of the coordinators of the Lesbian, Gay Male and Bisexual Programs Office at the University of Michigan.

The two awards are presented twice each year – once in the fall, and once in the winter. Each award is $500, and the numbers of available awards that are given each year are dependent on the funds that are available from the endowment. The winners of the awards will have been heavily involved in activities, organizations, events, and issues that affect the LGBT community, and it seems that preference is given to support and activism in the LGB communities of color.

In order to be eligible for this gay and lesbian scholarship, you must be a full time student, and you can be a graduate or undergraduate at the University of Michigan. Your activism and participation in the LGBT community must be documented as normally does with all LGBT scholarships. You must also agree to allowing the organization to use your name, and possibly your likeness, in the media should you win the award.

Applications for the U of M lesbian and gay scholarship must be submitted by February of each year. If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, your chances of being selected as a winner will weigh heavily on your activism and the essay that you submit with your application. While other factors are important, these two factors are extremely important. Winners are notified by the end of March each year.


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The Markowski Leach Gay Scholarship Fund

The Markowski-Leach lesbian and gay Scholarship is a legacy from a gay couple. The gay scholarship program came from a bequest left by Jim Leach.

Gay and lesbian scholarship
Markowski-Leach Scholarship

Throughout the years, many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people have left bequests and legacies behind when they passed on, and most of those legacies exist for the purpose of helping other LGBT people to succeed through education. The Markowski-Leach Gay Scholarship is just such a legacy.

The Markowski-Leach Scholarship is named for a gay couple, Tom Markowski and Jim Leach who wanted to leave a legacy behind. The initial funds for the gay scholarship program came from a bequest left by Jim Leach, and at his request, the fund was set up in both of the men’s names. The purpose of the scholarship fund was to assist gays and lesbians in their quest for further education. Both Tom Markowski and Jim Leach died of AIDS, two years apart. The fund was established in 1989, and more than $200,000 has been awarded since that time.

While being gay or lesbian is a requirement to win the award, there is much more to it than that. The bequest stated that the award should be made to gay or lesbian students who would most likely make a substantial contribution to society and improve the image of gay and lesbian people everywhere.

The gay scholarship award is available to any student who meets the qualifications regardless of their chosen field of study, and regardless of proving financial need, however the student must be attending or plan to attend the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, or San Francisco State University. You can be a graduate student or an undergraduate student to qualify for this scholarship for being gay.

Since the bequest made for this scholarship award stated that the award should be made to an gay student who shows promise for making a substantial contribution to society, it is vital that your personal statement include information as to how you plan to make such a contribution, or how you are already working towards that end. This plays a vital role in the selection process. Any past work that you have done to make such a contribution will also be strongly considered, so be sure to include this information.

While the award amount varies from year to year, the average amount of the award is about $1250, but the full amount is not paid at one time. Instead, the award is divided by the number of terms or semesters in the award year. You must be or plan to be a full-time student to quality, and you must continue to have academic excellence in order to remain eligible during the award year. Your GPA must be 2.5 in order to apply, and you must maintain that GPA.

The application deadline for the Markowski-Leach Gay Scholarship occurs around the middle of April each year, but applications are usually available and accepted as early as February. Selections for the winners are made in the early part of May each year.

Gay Scholarships from FFBC

A Gay Scholarships program from the First Friday Breakfast Club FFBC was created to improve the image of gay men through education.

Gay Scholarships from FFBC
FFBC Gay Scholarships

On the first Friday of each month, a group of gay men meet for breakfast. Those men form the club that has become known as the First Friday Breakfast Club, which has become a non-profit corporation. These men meeting for breakfast once a month is not insignificant, as they have established the FFBC, or First Friday Breakfast Club Gay Scholarships program. While this gay scholarship fund was created to improve the image of gay men through education, it is not solely intended for gay students.

The First Friday Breakfast Club is based in Iowa, and is actually the largest breakfast club in the state. The member list of the club is kept private, and the purpose of the club scholarships program is to further the education of future leaders to improve the image of gay men everywhere. The scholarship is funded almost completely by donations from members as well as non-members of the group, but fundraisers are held throughout the year for the fund as well. The organization feels that education is the biggest key to ending racism, discrimination, and intolerance for all people.

The First Friday Breakfast Club is awarded in the amount of $2500, and is available to high school seniors. It is not limited to gay teenagers at all, however. Instead, it is available to any person, male or female, who can show that they have actually worked in the efforts to increase awareness and tolerance for the gay and lesbian community. Your race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, creed, or marital status plays no role in the selection process for this gay scholarship. While your GPA does matter, your involvement in activities and organizations that work towards equality and tolerance for all seems to be what matters the most to the selection committee for these gay and lesbian scholarships.

Aside from this requirement, the applicant must also reside in Iowa, but the winner is free to attend any college or university, including trade schools, in the World. It is important to realize that the scholarship information does not state that you must attend a school in the United States, but the school must offer post-secondary level education, and it must be accredited by a governing agency. It also does not state that you have to be a citizen of the United States – only that you must reside in Iowa.

The deadline for applying for the FFBC gay and lesbian scholarships is March 31st of each year, and no application materials will be accepted after that date. The Award is made on May 1st of each year. If funds allow, more than one $2500 gay scholarship will be awarded each year, but this is not guaranteed, as it depends on how much the First Friday Breakfast Club Scholarship committee is able to collect through fundraisers and donations throughout the year.

The Eychaner Foundation Scholarship Program

The Eychaner Foundation Scholarship is also a LGBT scholarship because it’s a minority scholarship program and LGBT students are considered minorities.

Eychaner scholarship for minority
Eychaner Scholarship

If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) student, you are considered to be a minority student, and this makes you eligible for the Eychaner Foundation Scholarship Program, which was set up specifically to help pay for the educations of minority students – to the tune of $35,000. This is essentially a minority scholarship program and would make an excellent LGBT scholarship opportunity.

Founded in 1975, the Eychaner Foundation was started by Rich Eychaner as a non-profit organization. The purpose of the organization is to promote tolerance for people from all walks of life. The foundation does not just offer the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Scholarship for Minority Students, but also manages the Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program. Since these programs were started, more than one million dollars in minority scholarships have been awarded.

The Howard and Mildred Eychaner Scholarship is only available to minority students who graduate from DeKalb High School in DeKalb, Illinois. Those students who win this award must show academic aptitude and achievement, as well as community service. Financial need is also a consideration. Additionally, you must have a GPA of 3.0 or better, as well as an ACT score of at least 22. This is a renewable scholarship that will pay up to $35,000 over a four year period. The funds may be used for books, tuition, or fees, but it can only be used at Northern Illinois University.

The Matthew Shepard award was set up in memory of Matthew Shepard who was killed at the age of 21 because he was gay. The Eychaner Foundation set up the scholarship fund in his memory in 2000, in an effort to further promote tolerance and awareness. Winners of this award must attend high school in the state of Iowa. The same standards are required to win this award, but additionally, you must show that you are active in the LGBT community.

There are two levels of this award. The first is the Silver Eagle Award, which pays $7000 over four years, and the second is the Gold Eagle Award, which pays up to $35,000 over a four year period, if you are attending a college in Iowa. The Silver Eagle Award can be used at any college in the United States.

Applications for the Eychaner Foundation Scholarship and the Matthew Shepard Scholarship are available in January each year, and the cation deadline for both LGBT scholarship programs occurs in March of each year, with winners announced in May. It is important to note that the Matthew Shepard Scholarship is only available to LGBT students, while the Eychaner Foundation Scholarship is open to all minorities. It is also important to remember that the Eychaner Foundation Scholarship is only open to students of DeKalb, Illinois who will be attending Northern Illinois University, and only those students are welcome to apply.

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

If you have a strong sense of peace, justice, and equality along with being LGBT the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund will also award LGBT college scholarships.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund for LGBT college students
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

If you have a strong sense of peace, justice, and equality along with being LGBT, and you are trying to pay for college, you need information about the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund which will also award LGBT college scholarships. This plausible scholarship for LGBT students is awarded to students who actively participate towards creating a just world for everyone, regardless of differences. This includes work for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community.

This conceivable LGBT scholarship fund was actually founded in 1961, but by a different name. It was originally the Marian Davis Scholarship Fund, named after a woman who was a teacher and political activist. Ms. Davis died in 1960 from Breast Cancer. The fund continued under this name for four decades. When one of the directors of the fund died in 1999, Norton S. Putter, the fund was renamed. He was 100 years old, and he had been with the Marian Davis Scholarship Fund since the beginning.

This likely LGBT scholarship program awards students who meet all of the criteria, and who show financial need. Examples of those who have won the award in the past include people who have worked on efforts to end the Vietnam War, for civil rights, racism issues, homophobia, and oppression in all forms. This scholarship program is funded 100% by donations, so the award amount, and the number of awards given, change from year to year. However, the highest amount ever awarded by this scholarship fund was $10,000. The amount awarded to you, however, will be dependent on how much is available in the fund, and how much you need for your education.

Applications for the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund are not available until January of each year. The deadline for applying occurs on April 1st of each year. Applicants must be able to prove that they have been active in the struggle for social equality – even if equality issues do not apply directly to them. You must also show financial need, and prove that you have the ability to perform well academically.

This potential LGBT scholarship award is open to graduate students and undergraduate students who are enrolled in an accredited college. Your application package must include your application, transcripts, and letters of recommendation, a financial statement, a photograph, and a personal statement. You do not have to be a citizen of the United States, but you must live in the United States and plan to attend school there. Preference is given to students who also intend to remain in the United States after graduation.

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund – a great source of LGBT financial aid – is ideal for those who are members of the LGBT community, because members of that community are almost always active in equality events at some point, and discrimination against those who are members of the gay community is the most common discrimination that we experience today.

The Point Foundation National LGBT Scholarships

The Point Foundation understands the special challenges that LGBT students face which is why they established the Point Foundation National LGBT Scholarships.

Point Foundation National Scholarships for LGBT Students
Point Foundation National Scholarships

The Point Foundation understands the special challenges that LGBT students face, which is why the Point Foundation National LGBT Scholarships was established. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people often find that they are essentially abandoned by family and friends when they make their sexual orientation or gender identity known to others. This leaves a LGBT student on their own to finance their college education.

The Point Foundation works to equalize the playing field for those who are disadvantaged simply due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. They do this with a series of grants and scholarships, enabling the people that they serve to improve their life circumstances. The Point Foundation partners with a wide range of corporations, philanthropic people, and other foundations for this purpose. The Point Foundation was established in 2001, and since that time, the organization has awarded more than $3 million to LGBT students.

The Point Foundation National LGBT Scholarship Fund awards students with funds to cover the cost of tuition, supplies, room and board, books, living expenses, and transportation associated with their education. Each award is worth approximately $13,600, but more than that is spent on each winner, as each winner is also mentored and offered leadership training. The total amount spent on each winner yearly is approximately $34,000.

Those who win a Point Scholarship, and become Point Scholars, must continue to show academic achievement and be willing to contribute to the LGBT community. The contribution to the LGBT community is accomplished through an individual community service project. Because the scholarship does not cover the entire cost of education, Point Scholars are expected to find additional financing elsewhere, or to work while attending school to help cover those expenses.

Aside from the Point Foundation National LGBT Scholarships, the foundation manages numerous other scholarships, including the Allan Gilmour & Eric Jirgens Point Scholarship, the Bob Fennell Point Scholarship, and the Bryan L. Knapp Point Scholarship, the Calamus Foundation Point Scholarship, the Casey Sakir Point Scholarship, the Gregory Grosh Point Scholarship, the HBO Point Scholarship, the Jan Aronson Point Scholarship, the Joan R. Hellerpoint Scholarship, the Dr. Joan W. Fernandez Point Scholarship, the Jonathan D. Lewis Point Scholarship, the Kevin Hummer Point Scholarship, the Lawrence King/Jeffrey Fashion Cares Point Scholarship, the Minton-Spidell Point Scholarship, the Paul W. Speier Point Scholarship, the Phyllis Mandler & Gary Elden Point Scholarship, the Rand Skol Nick Point Scholarship, the Thomas and Sara Branton Point Scholarship, the Time Warner Point Scholarship, the University of Phoenix Point Scholarship, the Walter M. Decker Point Scholarship, and the Wells Fargo Point Scholarship.

Each scholarship administered by the Point Foundation has its own guidelines, eligibility criteria, and selection process, but all of these scholarships can be applied for with just one application through the Point Foundation. The deadline for submitting the application for all of these awards occurs in early February of each year.

The Dillenkoffer Endowment Lgbt Scholarship

If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender student, there are many LGBT financial aid scholarships open to you such as the Dillenkoffer Scholarship.

Dillenkoffer Endowment scholarship for lgbt
Dillenkoffer Endowment Scholarship

If you are trying to finance your education, you know that $10,000 will go a very long way. If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender student, there are many LGBT financial aid scholarships open to you, and while the Dillenkoffer Endowment Scholarship Program is open to everyone, due to the terms and purpose of the program, being an LGBT student does give you an advantage.

The Dillenkoffer Endowment was founded in the memory of Gayle Dillenkoffer, who died in 2006. The fund also exists for the purpose of supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender teens that live in either Kansas or Missouri by providing scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition for college. It is the belief of the endowment that LGBT teens have a harder time getting educated because of the discrimination and equality that they face from their peers as well as the adults in their lives.

When you apply for the Dillenkoffer Endowment Scholarship Program, it is vital that you give a great deal of consideration to the mission of the organization. The mission of the organization is to reward teens who are gay who have demonstrated the ability to succeed despite personal and academic challenges, to support them through higher education, and to provide them with the necessary tools to become role models for other young adults.

The LGBT scholarships offered through this organization is thought to be one of the best available for LGBT students, as it pays $10,000 each year for four years for the winner – which is huge. You stand a better chance of winning the award if you are an LGBT student, and you must have at least a 2.75 GPA. Additionally, you must be able to show the selection committee how you have helped to make a difference in your community through community or school activities, organizations, or involvement. While you must reside in Kansas or Missouri, you must also be planning to attend a college in Kansas or Missouri.

Each year, the deadline for applying occurs in March, but you can apply as early as January. You must be willing and able to travel to Kansas City for an interview, and selections are made by the committee in May. There is some conflicting information. Some information claims that only LGBT students are eligible, while other information states that all students are eligible to apply. If you are not an LGBT student, it is important that you verify your eligibility for this gay scholarship through the organization before applying.

Because this LGBT financial aid scholarship program is so incredibly lucrative, you should expect the competition to be stiff, but some believe that there isn’t that much competition because of the limited area that the scholarship is available to, as well as the fact that preference is given to openly LGBT students.

Contact Information

The Dillenkoffer Endowment
1400 NW 85th Street, #206
Kansas City, MO 64155-4127
866-465-2008
Email – info@dillenkoffer.org