As New School Semester Starts, Point Foundation Celebrates Scholarships For 98 LGBTQ Students

Largest and Most Diverse Group in Foundation's History

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 23, 2017 - As students across the country return to campus after a summer of political turmoil, Point Foundation (Point), the nation's most prominent scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students, is proud its 98 scholarship recipients are the largest and most diverse group of scholarship recipients in the organization's history.

From more than 2,000 applicants this year, 27 LGBTQ students were chosen to be Point Scholars. Point is also welcoming 25 LGBTQ students to its expanded Community College Scholarship Program, thanks to continued support from Wells Fargo. These 52 new scholarship recipients join 46 continuing Point Scholars to make 98 students Point is assisting in community colleges, four-year colleges and advanced degree programs.

This year's scholarship recipients include veterans of the armed forces, award-winning artists, international LGBTQ rights activists, creators of nonprofit organizations, and young scientists. In addition to their accomplishments, many of the new scholarship recipients have overcome barriers to their success that are all too common in the LGBTQ community, including family rejection and abuse, homelessness, discrimination, and challenges to their immigration status.

A complete list of scholarship recipients can be found below; bios for each are available on Point's website, www.pointfoundation.org.

"While students are returning to school amidst an angry climate of bigotry and political opposition to LGBTQ rights, our 2017 scholars find strength in their diverse identities and are resolute about creating a better society," said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Point Foundation. "By providing them not only with financial support but also mentoring, leadership development and internship opportunities, we are empowering them to be the next generation of leaders."

For 2017–2018, there are 98 LGBTQ students receiving financial assistance and programmatic support from Point as they pursue their associate, bachelor's, or graduate degrees. After graduating, students become part of Point's growing network, connecting them with hundreds of caring individuals and professional contacts throughout the nation.

Notable facts about the 2017 Point Scholar class:

Two-thirds identify as a racial or ethnic group other than white.
Nearly half identify as transgender, gender-nonconforming, or intersex.
More than a third are first in their families to go to college.
Eight scholars were formerly homeless.

Notable facts about the 2017 Community College Scholarship recipients:

60% are the first in their families to go to college
Nearly half identify as transgender, gender-nonconforming, or intersex.
One-Third identify as bisexual, polysexual or queer.
Enrolled in schools in 22 cities across the U.S.

Individuals, corporations, and organizations can support Point's mission by designating a scholarship with a "Name" -- recognizing the donor, or an individual or institution the donor wishes to honor. Named Scholarship donors pledge to cover the financial assistance and programmatic support Point provides its scholars.

Named Scholarships generously being supported are: Barbey; Calamus Foundation; Douglas Wurth; George Benes, MD & Michael Mallee, EdD; HBO; HSBC; Janssen Infectious Diseases; Kevin Hummer; KPMG; Minton-Spidell-Jackowski; NBCUniversal; Northern Trust; Novo Nordisk; Point Honors Los Angeles; Point Honors New York; Rand Skolnick; Rim-Freeman; Arnold Schwab; Took Trust; Toyota Financial Services; Viiv; Walter M. Decker; Wells Fargo; William J. Levy.

The 2017 Point Scholars, including their hometown, area of study and degree, school, and Named Scholarship (where applicable) are as follows:

Logan Alcosiba; Newark, CA; Humanities; BA; San Francisco State University, CA; Wells Fargo Scholar
Michael Arellano; Shelby, MI; Dance/Behavioral Science, BA; Western Michigan University, MI
Kylie Blume; El Dorado, CA; Medicine, MD; University of Minnesota, MN; Novo Nordisk Scholar
Nolan Boggess; Des Moines, IA; Theatre and Dance, BA; Grinnell College, IA
Kerri Cecil; Los Angeles, CA; Film and Television, BA; University of Southern California
Wandi Che; Beijing, China; Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies, BA; Duke University, NC
Kevin Contreras; Carson, CA; Pre-Med, BA; Pitzer College, CA; Wells Fargo Scholar
Sarah Daoud; Chicago, IL; Social Work, MSW, University of Chicago, IL; Janssen Infectious Diseases Scholar
Felipe Gomez; Hialeah, FL; Mathematical Economics, BA; University of Pennsylvania, PA; Wells Fargo Scholar
Eric Gonzaba; Corydon, IN; History, Ph.D.; George Mason University, VA
Molly Griffard; St. Louis, MO; Law, JD; New York University, NY
Kuhan Jeyapragasan; Toronto, CA; Applied Mathematics, BA; Stanford University, CA; HSBC Scholar
Bodo Lee; Oro Valley, AZ; Ethics, Politics, and Economics, BA; Yale University, CT; Wells Fargo Scholar
Adil Mansoor; Lombard, IL; Theatre, MA; Carnegie Mellon University, PA; Arnold Schwab Scholar
Landon Marchant; Wrightstown, WI; Computer Science, BA; Williams College, MA; HSBC Scholar
Shannon Moran; Grand Rapids, MI; Chemical Engineering, Ph.D.; University of Michigan, MI
Khushboo Panjwani; Carrollton, TX; International Relations/Anthropology, BA; University of Texas at Austin, TX; Rim-Freeman Scholar
Harper Rubin; Chicago, IL; International Relations, BA; Bard College, NY; George Benes, MD & Michael Mallee, EdD. Scholar
Omar Salman; Nashville, TN; Medicine, MD; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, VA; Janssen Infectious Diseases Scholar
Donna Scaffidi; Shrewsury, MA; Law, JD; University of Michigan, MI
Oliver Stabbe; Washington, DC; American Sign Language/Psychology, BA; University of Rochester, NY
Ximena Ospina Vargas; Elizabeth, NJ; Business, BA; Columbia University, NY; KPMG Scholar
Tony Vo; Seattle, WA; Educational Leadership, Ed.D; Seattle University, WA
Yingyi Wang; Huizhou, China; Gender, Women, and Sexualities Studies, Ph.D.; University of Washington, WA; Kevin Hummer Scholar
Vanessa Watson; Little Silver, NJ; Production Management in Fashion and Related Industries/Technical Design, BA; Fashion Institute of Technology, NY; Barbey Scholar
Valerie Weisler; West Nyack, NY; Inequalities of Education, BA; Muhlenberg College, PA
Le'Priya White; Chicago, IL; Sociology, BA; Oberlin College, OH

The 2017 recipients of the Point Community College Scholarship, including their school and area of study, are as follows:

Barovier Kevin Allybose; Liberal Arts; Norwalk Community College, CT
Andres Bautista; Psychology and Gender & Women's Studies; Glendale Community College, AZ
Diana Campos; Engineering Science; Richard J. Daley College, IL
Kevin Canton Mancia; Mathematics; Santa Monica College, CA
Tomas Castillo Bukakis; Film; College of the Canyons and Santa Monica College, CA
Nia Clark; Communications; Los Angeles City College, CA
Bryant Couvillon; Public Policy; Georgia State University Perimeter College, GA
Robert Darkwood; Pre-Nursing; Fullerton College, CA
Justin Deal; Pre-Nursing; Cleveland State Community College, TN
Lucas Dickerson; Art; Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, MS
Daniel Gomez; Neuroscience; East Los Angeles College, CA
Tremaine Jones; Social Work; Miami Dade College, FL
Alexander Kees Bomgarnder; Accounting; North Lake College, TX
Amme Lahaie; Process Technology, Mechanical Engineering; Bellingham Technical College, WA
Chloe Lannes; English; Diablo Valley College, CA
Nina Lockshin; Sociology; Diablo Valley College, CA
McKenna Palmer; Gender Studies; Santa Monica College, CA
Stevan Perea; Political Science; Santa Monica College, CA
Gramoz Prestreshi; Social Work; The Catholic University of America, DC
Christina Quiñonez; Social Sciences; Berkeley City College, CA
Celene Reyes Aparicio; Psychology; Long Beach City College, CA
Daffodyle Saget; Sociology; Miami Dade College, FL
Preston Shatwell; Marketing; Rogers State University, OK
Bryce Taylor; Generals (Dental Hygiene); Western Iowa Tech Community College, IA
Sergio Tundo; Pre-Nursing; County College of Morris, IL

About Point Foundation

Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society.

Since 2002, Point has awarded approximately 400 scholarships making it the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit. The Foundation promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development and community service training. pointfoundation.org | facebook.com/pointfoundation | twitter.com/pointfoundation | instagram.com/pointfoundation | pointfoundation.tumblr.com