Scholarship
Gilligan-Pospisil Homelessness Award ($3,000)
Kay, with a 4.0 GPA at Augsburg College, is an exceptional student because he is dedicated and passionate. At the same time, he works at District 202 where he is respected for his performance, accountability and initiative. As an African-born Muslim queer, from a political family that was oppressed in Somalia, he takes his freedom and privilege very seriously. He hopes to get a college access program in place for homeless or precariously housed students at his campus. Kay’s career goal is to nurture innovation in developing countries with a micro-financing program.
Recipient Lauren Beach
Minneapolis, Minn.
Scholarship
The PF Engineering Award ($2,000)
The Reverend Obed “Duke” and RuthE Lundeen Social Justice Award ($1,000)
Lauren is a talented and highly-motivated student, with an outstanding academic record. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular, developmental biology & genetics and a law degree at the University of Minnesota. In addition to several student organizations, Lauren serves on the statewide board for both the Bisexual Organizing Project and the BECAUSE conference, for which she has been instrumental in outreach, fundraising and organizing. Having interned at the World Health Organization, her long-term goal is to create more socially conscious, science-based public policy, ideally in a position at the Food and Drug Administration.
Recipient Emily Blessing
Golden Valley, Minn.
Scholarship
Holland-Federhart Outstanding Arts Award ($1,500)
Community Award ($500)
Emily transferred to Perpich Center for the Performing Arts in her third year of high school and was hoping to find an active Gay-Straight Alliance, but was disappointed to find that the club had been dormant. Emily, along with her peers and LGBT faculty, rallied energy for a stronger LGBT presence at Perpich and subsequently organized successful National Day of Silence events. Energized by the success of the Day of Silence organizing, Emily worked to bring her classmates to LGBT Lobby Day at our State Capitol. Emily says that her conscience drives her to improve the quality of life for all humanity through her LGBT activism. She plans a career as a pianist; playing with orchestras and smaller ensembles.
Recipient Geoffrey Carlisle
Northfield, Minn.
Scholarship
Carey/Taylor Music Award ($5,000)
Geoffrey is attending St. Olaf College, majoring in music and environmental studies. He is the principal violist and section leader of the orchestra’s viola section. His professor of music observes that he is “a gifted musician and orchestral player.” He is an active member of St. Olaf’s GLOW! (Gay, Lesbian or Whatever!) group, creating projects and events. Geoffrey plans to take a year off after graduating and work for a non-profit such as Teach for America. Ultimately, he would like to teach in a high school setting, preferably at a low-income school.
Recipient Brynne Crockett
Minneapolis, Minn.
Scholarship
Haynes-Hettinga African American or Native American Student Award ($3,000)
Brynne is an out leader on her basketball team at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. She volunteers in North High School’s clinic, providing health education and presentations. Coaches and mentors describe her as an extraordinary peer mentor whose encouraging attitude inspires others around her. Brynne is proud of her African-American LGBT identity and puts her pride in these identities to use through speaking on panels about identity, health and sexually transmitted diseases. Brynne plans to major in youth and recreational studies and begin a career in youth organizing. She sees it as her responsibility to be out in athletics and health education to advance LGBT visibility.
Recipient Jacob Devine
Little Falls, Minn.
Scholarship
Dr. Tom Knabel Academic Achievement Award ($3,000)
Jacob’s stellar grades and test scores are only complemented by his community involvement and leadership. In addition to fostering a sense of community among LGBT and allied students, Jacob also serves as the president of his high school’s choir and has performed in more than 15 theatre productions. Jacob plans to pursue a degree in theatre and linguistics and will put that degree to use by producing performance pieces that advance social change for LGBT communities. He believes that social progress is not a sweeping process that magically affects everyone; it occurs by changing one mind at a time.
Recipient Megan Holm
Minneapolis, Minn.
Scholarship
Linde-Ostrander Breaking Barriers Leadership Award ($5,000)
Megan is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout working toward her master’s in marriage and family therapy. Her early activism focused on promoting a more inclusive curriculum for all grade levels in the Iowa public schools. She presented at teacher in-service trainings about age appropriate ways to recognize diverse family models, initiating a conversation with teachers about the inclusion of LGBT families in public education. As co-owner of The Hub Bike Co-Op, she organized and facilitated discussions about race, gender and privilege during staff meetings and retreats. These discussions helped workers to come together and value each other’s various experiences. Megan hopes to establish a family practice that conducts community mental health discussions about issues like racism and homophobia and their impact on relationships as well as working with LGBT individuals.
Recipient Emma Martin
Burnsville, Minn.
Scholarship
Community Award ($2,500)
Emma, graduating with honors, is fifth in her class. As the leader of Burnsville High School’s gay-straight alliance: PROUD (People Respecting Others and Understanding Difference), Emma has been instrumental in the fight to make her club a school sponsored group and fully create a safe school environment for LGBT students. One teacher says of Emma, “Her desire to change the world does not stem from her desire to be known as a changer, but rather her genuine passion to see the world as a more equitable place.” Emma will be majoring in sociology and minoring in feminist studies. Whether she becomes a lawyer, a journalist, or a human rights officer for the United Nations, she will always be a civil-rights activist.
Recipient Chloe Mirzayi
St. Paul, Minn.
Scholarship
Nancy T. Kelly Female Writer Memorial Award ($2,000)
Atheists for Human Rights Award ($500)
Chloe is an activist in all aspects of her life. In her first year at Macalester College, Chloe founded “Thistle,” a literary magazine with member-driven content, and also performed spoken word in the campus Queer Cabaret. As a sophomore, Chloe was the only LGBT voice in student government and worked to establish gender-neutral restrooms on campus and was also instrumental in creating the college’s first gender-neutral residence. Now, as the vice president of student government, Chloe has added gender-identity to the organization's non-discrimination clause. Chloe hopes to use all these experiences to positively affect the health care sector for transgender people.
Recipient Maureen Murphy-Ryan
Rochester, Minn.
Scholarship
Blue Earth Area Award ($2,000)
Southeast Minnesota Award ($1,500)
Maureen brought a strong academic background from Duke University to Mayo Medical School. She excels in academics, research and leadership. She is an active member of Gay Lesbian Community Services (GLCS) of Southeastern Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic LGBT Network. Maureen has worked to establish collaboration among area groups to raise LGBT visibility including GLCS, Mayo Medical School and IBM. Maureen is most proud of her work toward compiling video testimonials of LGBT patients for use in classes at Mayo Medical School. She is passionate about exploring how the intersection of research and medicine can improve the LGBT healthcare experience.
Recipient Neil Panchmatia
St. Cloud, Minn.
Scholarship
Miriam Weinstein Peace and Justice Education Award ($3,000)
Neil’s leadership and activism is ever-present in his life and academics. He has worked on smoking-cessation campaigns within LGBT and communities of color mentored his peer international students who were coming out and coordinated the Minnesota Social Justice Conference for Youth. Neil strongly believes that social change begins in the classroom and hopes to use his role as a future educator to promote equality and social justice. His academic studies have focused on social inequality and a critical analysis of social systems. All of this is aimed at a career in education where, in his own words, he can “use the classroom as a platform for equality.” Neil is completing a master’s in social responsibility at St. Cloud State University while working as a graduate assistant in international student services.
Recipient Cara Rose Partington
Hopkins, Minn.
Scholarship
RBC Wealth Management Award ($2,000)
Cara is graduating with honors from Perpich Center for Arts Education. Cara has studied an intensive academics program and theater. Her theatre instructor says she shows “tremendous leadership qualities and has a distinctive eye for the creative and analytical processes of theaters.” At Perpich she is a vital part of the gay-straight alliance and has demonstrated leadership throughout the year. She has raised awareness of youth homelessness with legislators and is an active member in a local PFLAG chapter. As she begins her study of film production at Minnesota State University Moorhead, her goal is to make quality films about real life stories including gay teens and their journey of coming out to their families.
Recipient Kiran Raghubir
Minneapolis, Minn.
Scholarship
Songs from the Heart Award ($2,000)
Kiran is a respected and valuable member of Minneapolis’ Roosevelt High School. As class president and archivist on the student council, a four-year member of the football and baseball teams, and a band member, Kiran is a well-liked out gay student. He always puts his academics first—as a result, he has been recognized two years running for having the highest GPA of any player on the football team. According to his Admission Possible senior coach, Kiran has a deep knowledge of himself and his identity, and he is masterful when interacting with his peers. Kiran plans to integrate his love of the clarinet and piano with his college career.
Recipient Anna Roth
Winona, Minn.
Scholarship
Lutheran Award ($2,000)
As an out Lutheran in the Winona area, Anna has harnessed an energy to “make the world a better place” by sharing her life with those around her. Anna serves as the LGBT representative for Winona State University feminist group and was a core organizer for National Coming Out Week events. Moved by the Prop. 8 decision, Anna mobilized a group from Winona to attend rallies in St. Paul to show support for LGBT equality. One teacher remarked that Anna is a “strong young woman and mature activist leader.” Anna plans to complete degrees in psychology and chemistry.
Recipient Eli Schlatter
Minneapolis, Minn.
Scholarship
Quorum Leadership and Entrepreneurism Award ($5,000)
Ranking in the top three percent of his class, Eli has always chosen a demanding course of study at Minneapolis’ South High School. Coming out in his freshman year, he quickly found a home in the technical theater department where his leadership, confidence and creativity has flourished. Helping to design and build over 24 sets at South, Eli is also part of the student production staff, co-leads the tech team and for his senior project, is directing Brecht’s “The Three Penny Opera.” Eli’s openness about his identity extends to his faith community. The director of education at Unity Church–Unitarian tells how Eli led the church’s own journey of “being actively open, welcoming and affirming” to LGBT people. Serving on a panel of LGBT youth and adults, Eli shares his whole person openly and honestly, inspiring others to do the same.
Recipient Donicia Soliz
St. Paul, Minn.
Scholarship
Al Oertwig St. Paul Public Schools Award ($1,400)
All God’s Children Award ($1,000)
Donicia is a senior at St. Paul’s Harding High School, taking advanced classes while remaining an active member of the school’s gay-straight alliance. Frustrated by hearing “that’s so gay” on a daily basis, Donicia worked with the school’s GSA to bring the “Gay? Fine by Me” t-shirt campaign to campus. One day a week, students wear the t-shirts and engage in educational conversation with their peers about LGBT communities. Since the launch of the campaign, the GSA has grown and students have begun to realize the negative effect of hate speech. Mentors comment that Donicia "has a pugnacious determination to overcoming obstacles” and “her outgoing nature and role as an outspoken ally has made a positive impact in her high school.” Donicia will attend Concordia University in the fall to pursue a degree in music production and marketing.
Recipient Joshua Stiles
Verndale, Minn.
Scholarship
Meuwissen-Werb Leadership Award ($2,000)
Senator Paul Wellstone Memorial Award ($250)
Joshua considers coming out his junior year of high school the best decision of his life. He notes that most LGBT people from his area wait until they graduate to come out, but he felt his coming out could break down barriers not only in his school but in his community. He participates in National Honor Society, choir and takes post-secondary enrollment options classes. Joshua is also a well respected athlete and excels academically. Joshua’s school counselor believes he is helping to change the minds of the community and by coming out he serves as a mentor for younger students. In the fal, Joshua will attend the University of Minnesota – Duluth, and hopes to make visits to his high school during college to share his story and inspire others.
Recipient Anthony Streiff
Rosemount, Minn.
Scholarship
Howard Liebhaber Human Rights Award ($2,000)
Wellness Award ($1,000)
Anthony’s family and teachers describe him as a confident and charismatic young man. Anthony helped to reenergize the Rosemount High School’s gay-straight alliance. He has a mission to educate within the Rosemount community and create a space for LGBT people. Anthony has served on panels for staff and faculty in his school to share his coming out story and propose recommendations for making the school a more inclusive place. He currently serves as the co-president of the GSA at Rosemount high school and works with staff and students to explore ways to interrupt overt and covert homophobia and heterosexism in his school. Anthony will attend St. Cloud State University in the fall to pursue a degree in psychology and counseling, with the aim of becoming a counselor for those who suffer from chemical dependency.
Recipient Brian Wollum
North Mankato, Minn.
Scholarship
Minnesota State University – Mankato Award ($2,000)
Pat McCart Education Memorial Award ($2,000)
Brian is passionate about raising awareness and helping to eliminate all forms of oppression. At Minnesota State University – Mankato he is doing just that. Along with his graduate work in the educational leadership program, Brian is a program advisor at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center. He is also the communications coordinator for South Central Minnesota Pride. Through these roles and others, Brian has helped to change the minds of people and the climate of MSU – Mankato. Jessica Flatequal, director of the LGBT Center, says, “He’s been a great inspiration and friend to many students who are struggling with their identity, have been victimized, or been made to feel ashamed.” Brian is a true change-maker.
