Community colleges are an increasingly useful and affordable steppingstone for students who are just beginning their college careers. Point Foundation encourages LGBT community college students who plan on a transfer to a four-year degree program to apply for its Community College Scholarships Program.
Students accepted into the program receive a financial award, transfer coaching, and academic planning guidance. The Point Community College Transfer Symposium in Los Angeles is where access to a network of LGBT scholars and alumni is provided. Profiles of Point’s current Community College Scholarship recipients and application information are online.
“Due to lack of familial and community support, LGBTQ students often come from resource-challenged backgrounds,” said Jorge Valencia, executive director and CEO at Point Foundation. “Many are also the first in their families to try and navigate a path to higher education. 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.”
Point launched its Community College Scholarship in 2016 with support from Wells Fargo. Point encourages donors to support the program by funding a Community College Named Scholarship. They suggest that it be named for an individual or institution they wish to honor. A Community College Named Scholarship represents a commitment of $8,000 over one year.
Point will announce the 2018 class of Point Foundation Community College Scholarship recipients in June for LGBT Pride Month. They will also announce its 2018 class of Point Foundation Scholars. That program supports LGBT students completing four-year and/or advanced degree programs.
Point Foundation is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students of merit and has awarded scholarships to almost 400 recipients since 2002.
