LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Scholarships
By Mya Tran
As spring approaches, so does the daunted idea of college. I get it, it’s scary. As a college student myself, one of the most difficult steps I do every year is scour the internet for the best scholarships. Scholarships can be difficult and stressful. Many of them are either incredibly specific or too vague to be confident in. Some of them are just complete scams, and some of them require long winded and painful essays. We here at Matthew’s Place have compiled a list of BIPOC and LGBT+ scholarships for the 2024 semester for all of you starting your college journeys.
Prism Foundation Scholarship
About: The purpose is to celebrate and reward activists who are making a positive impact on the API and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Requirements:
- Must be attending a post secondary institution in the US in the fall of 2024 (community college, university, and trade/vocational school)
- Current or most recent academic transcript(s).
- One letter of support highlighting your community engagement and/or leadership skills from someone who can speak to your abilities, such as a peer, colleague, teacher, school administrator, counselor, employer, or community leader.
Application: Answer some short essay questions and provide one written essay
Due Date: June 30th, 2024
Grace Towers Scholarship
About: The purpose is to uplift young artists who are part of the LGBT community.
Requirements:
- Applicants in California
- Ages 16–25
- Identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community
- Sometime in your high school or post high school career, your art should have demonstrated raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and contributed to the conversation
Application: Either a short essay, video, or audio recording
Due Date: June 30th, 2024
Point BIPOC Scholarship
About: Point aims to fight back against bigotry by providing financial support, community resources, and professional development for those in the BIPOC and LGBT communities.
Requirements:
- Scholarship recipients must identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) communities and LGBTQ.
- Must be enrolled or intending to enroll at any accredited postsecondary in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska
- Students in college or universities in a United States territory or post-doctoral program are not eligible.
- Must be enrolled full-time or part-time.
- Must be “out” as a person who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community.
Application: Unknown
Due Date: Window opens February 8th, 2024
BOLD Pride in Education Award
About: In order to support LGBTQ+ students and their allies, the PRIDE in Education Award will support any high school senior or undergraduate student who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community or is an ally toward the community.
Requirements:
- Must either be a member of or ally to the LGBT community
Application: Write about yourself and how the LGBTQ+ community impacts your life. Include your major and why you chose to pursue that.
Due Date: April 1st, 2024
About the Author
Mya Tran is an incoming junior at Butler University, in Indianapolis, IN. They are currently studying English on the creative writing track and German. Growing up in a small college town with limited queer role models, Tran has spent her life with her nose in the books, looking for someone to relate to.
