Pool Family LGBT+ Scholarship

Funded by
$2,500
1 winner$2,500
Open
Application Deadline
May 25, 2024
Winners Announced
Jun 25, 2024
Education Level
Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
Undergraduate
Identity:
LGBTQ+
Education Level:
Identity:
Undergraduate
LGBTQ+

Despite recent legal and social progress, many LGBTQ+ individuals are still discriminated against in academia, the workforce, and society in general. 

In the last year alone, one-third of LGBTQ+ individuals in the US faced discrimination, with transgender Americans facing even higher rates of discrimination, affecting 3 in 5. This discrimination can reduce one’s opportunities, can contribute to mental health crises, and can discourage people from seeking necessary medical care. 

The Pool family is a family with LGBTQ+ kids and a proud mom who has been involved with their local PFLAG organization for many years. They are looking to make a difference for an LGBTQ+ student who is looking to further their education at college or trade school.

Any LGBTQ+ undergraduate student may apply for this exclusive scholarship opportunity, but students studying at community college or trade schools will be preferred.

To apply, submit an essay OR video telling us about your experiences as an LGBTQ+ student as well as your goals.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published February 20, 2024
$2,500
1 winner$2,500
Open
Application Deadline
May 25, 2024
Winners Announced
Jun 25, 2024
Education Level
Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Essay Topic

Please write about your experiences being part of the LGBTQ+ community OR submit a video. Also, what are some of your career goals and aspirations?

0–600 words

Winning Application

Noah Glynn
Community College of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA
I spent the majority of my life posing as a heterosexual, cisgender woman out of fear. When I could no longer take the pain of living a life that did not fit me, I came out as a transgender man in the summer of 2016. I had made a life for myself in small town Pennsylvania, which promptly fell apart once I revealed my authentic self. I experienced transphobia in the workplace, in my friendships, and the 12 step fellowship that helped me get sober in 2011. I ultimately moved back home to Philadelphia after only a few months of living as male and on hormone replacement therapy. When I arrived home, I was embraced by an LGBTQ community that I didn't know existed and that I had never allowed myself to be immersed in. I continued to stay sober, and put my life back together again. I got into therapy where I set goals and reached them. I experienced my first ever Pride parade, and was able to undergo top surgery. Going back to school was the next goal on my list. I enrolled in the Community College of Philadelphia in the fall of 2021, and have been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA. My journey back to higher education has been a long one and not without obstacles and I still experience transphobia at times, but here I am. Had it not been for a queer community who believed in me and stepped up to love and support me, I might not have made it. Because of this, I feel compelled to give back to my community in any way that I can. As a future registered nurse, I'll have the opportunity to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues, dismantle stigma, and provide compassionate, trauma-informed care to a vulnerable community that lifted me up when I needed help. I am most interested in working with communities who are frequently underserved and overlooked in the healthcare system. These individuals consequently do not get the quality of care that they deserve. I look forward to working with LGBTQ at risk youth and emerging adults, those who struggle with mental health issues, people who are or have been incarcerated, low-income and underinsured individuals, and individuals experiencing homelessness. The LGBTQ community gave me the courage to be myself. I currently work in a hospital in the Philadelphia area where I am very open about my identity as a transgender man. I am the first transgender person that most of my coworkers have ever met. I believe that my experience as a member of the LGBTQ community gives me a unique perspective and makes me an asset to the healthcare profession. I am immensely proud of how far I have come in life, and I believe that I already bring a lot to the table. However, with higher education, I could contribute even more. There are simply not enough transgender healthcare providers, and the ones who do exist are so few and far between that they are often overbooked and understaffed. We need more of us to be able to better meet the needs of our community, and I am hoping to be able to be part of that.
Keara Watson
Santa Fe CollegeGainesville, FL
I am an 18-year-old high school senior also graduating with my Associate in Science degree at the same time as my high school diploma. At a young age, my parents instilled the value of hard work and perseverance in me, never knowing how important those two words would become to me as a middle schooler. I learned how fulfilling community service work can be at a very young age as well. My parents allowed me to start volunteering on my own when I was 13 years old. My very first activity was to volunteer weekends (8 hours per day) at our local animal sanctuary called Summerfield Zoo. I would spend Spring and Summer weekends there doing various duties throughout the zoo. From running the petting zoo to feeding the animals, cleaning stalls, to helping in the nursery, it was a wonderful way to give back to our local animal rescue. Although I have been doing a wide variety of community service and volunteer work for over 5 years, I feel that the biggest leadership role within my community is when I am volunteering with local children and teens who have been bullied. As a severe bullying survivor, I spent most of my middle school and high school years being bullied just because I have two moms. I was hit, had things thrown at me, thrown into lockers, tormented, and cyberbullied. I felt alone and no one at school would help me. There were many times that I felt like my only option would be to just not be on this earth any longer. I did finally turn to my parents for help, but I was lucky that they understood my situation. Many LGBTQ+ youth and teens do not have that kind of support system at home or anywhere else. I feel that I can connect with them and create a positive environment for them to feel safe. My goal is to create a nurturing environment where they trust me and we can find positive ways to help them regain their self-esteem and self-worth. Creating empowering activities that help them protect themselves when necessary and enable them to seek the help required to overcome the psychological damage caused to them by being bullied. I know that being bullied myself is exactly what made me decide to do two things. One, test in for my high school’s dual enrollment program so that I could escape the bullies that never stopped tormenting me in school. And two, made me want to go into the healthcare field. I want to be able to help others, possibly when there is nowhere else to turn. I have always had a love for science, and I think I can combine my two passions and have a fulfilling career. I know that my real-life experiences will allow me the strength and compassion needed to be successful in helping others. I am hoping to receive as many scholarships as possible to help me fulfill my dreams of finishing my Bachelor’s degree and applying to Medical School. That is my dream thanks to hard work and perseverance.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is May 25, 2024. Winners will be announced on Jun 25, 2024.