Awarded to students who demonstrate positive involvement in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, it's the fastest growing endowed scholarship at the university. Gary Van Harn, chair of Allies and Advocates, said the fund now totals more than $51,500.
The fund is supported with donations from faculty and staff members, and matched by the university. It was established in October 2001 and by spring 2004 had passed the $20,000 mark, the minumum needed before money can be disbursed.
"So in less than three years, we went from nothing to something," said Van Harn, assistant to the director of the Padnos International Center. "That's very unusual for kind of scholarship. I've received calls from development directors at other universities asking me, 'How did you do this?'"
Two LGBT Scholarships were recently awarded to Whitney Hershberger and Jasmin McKinney. Hershberger, a communications major from East Jordan, said while she is, naturally, grateful for the money, she also views the scholarship as an opportunity to have more open conversations with people.
"Now I feel more motivated to talk to people. Not that I would force my opinion on anyone," Hershberger said. "But perhaps through conversations, it will lead to more understanding."
McKinney, a mathematics major from Detroit, is the vice president of Out 'N About and active in a student mentorship program sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. She joined Out 'N About as a freshman after learning about the student organization as a Freshman Academy student.
"I think the campus, as a whole, is pretty accepting of gay students," McKinney said. "But there are a few outlaws."
