Sandhills PRIDE, a support network and educational advocacy group dedicated to increasing awareness and acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community in the Sandhills region, announced they are accepting applications for the 2024 Sandhills PRIDE Scholarship Program. The scholarship is dedicated to assisting LGBTQ+ and allied students in furthering their educations to become successful, productive adults. The scholarship is funded by individual and corporate donations, sponsorships, and fundraisers.
“Our scholarship recipients are already using their voices as high school students to publicly and proudly advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in our area,” says Lauren Mathers, executive director of Sandhills PRIDE. “The Sandhills PRIDE Scholarship celebrates these remarkable individuals and their high level of achievement and gives support to their voices so they can grow and create meaningful positive change both for their futures, and the future of our community.”
“This scholarship has allowed me to work less at college and focus more on community involvement,” said Cheyenne Minor in her acceptance speech for her $5,000 award at the 2023 scholarship reception. “Since suicide rates in the LGBTQ+ community are so high because of the lack of support from families and geographical communities, this is vital to our youth. When I finish school, I plan to become a therapist. I am proud to enter the workforce in a job that allows me to support our community and possibly save lives.”
A total of up to $10,000 will be awarded in Sandhills PRIDE Scholarships in 2024. One $5,000 and two $2,500 scholarships will be available for students of any North Carolina accredited public or private high school in the following North Carolina counties: Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Montgomery, Richmond, and Scotland. Scholarship funds must be used for educational expenses. Awards will be distributed to the college, university, or technical institution upon receipt of a letter of acceptance and verification of enrollment.
Students can view the eligibility requirements and download a copy of the scholarship application on the Sandhills PRIDE website https://sandhillspride.org/scholarships/, or they can reach out to their school’s counselor or scholarship coordinator. A complete scholarship application package, including recommendations, must be received by Sandhills PRIDE’s Scholarship Committee either by mail to P.O. Box 3473, Pinehurst, NC 28374, or by email to [email protected], no later than March 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Feature photo: Juice Privitera (left), Kaleigh Barbour and Cheyenne Minor, recipients of their 2023 Sandhills PRIDE Scholarship.
Contributed/Courtesy photo.
