TACOMA, Wash. - Less than one year after a group of alumni came up with the idea, the University of Puget Sound has awarded its first scholarship recognizing student leadership in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations on campus. Senior Jolie Harris will receive the $1,000 LGBT Leadership Scholarship.
Harris, a native of Santee, Calif., is an English major with minors in African American Studies and Communication. She said the scholarship is an honor that will stay with her long after her days as a student at Puget Sound are over.
"The creation of this scholarship fund sends the clear message that Queer visibility is important to the entire campus community and deserves recognition," said Harris.
Harris has been deeply involved with a variety of LGBT student organizations and initiatives at Puget Sound. She has been a member of the group Understanding Sexuality since 1998 and is currently its co-president. She also serves on the Student Diversity Center Governing Council, and is a Safe Zone committee member. As a freshman she was on the Dean of Students Leadership Council.
Talk about the scholarship began last fall at an LGBT student reunion that Harris helped organize. She planned to donate to the fund some day, but never figured she would be around to be a scholarship recipient. It was expected to take several years of grass roots fund raising to raise enough money to endow the scholarship fund. However, a dedicated group of LGBT alumni jump-started the process.
"Alumni came forward at an astounding rate to support diversity at a place we have all called home at one time or another," marveled Harris. "I am overwhelmingly grateful for their bravery and initiative."
Harris gave special thanks to everyone in the Puget Sound Division of Student Affairs, especially Donn Marshall and Houston Dougharty; to Beth Herman and the Development Office; and to all of the alumni who helped make the scholarship happen.
"Their energy and support reach far beyond offering financial aid to student leaders," she said.
Work continues to build the Puget Sound LGBT Leadership Scholarship fund. People who wish to contribute may do so by contacting Herman at (253) 879-3402 or bherman@ups.edu.
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The University of Puget Sound is a 2,600-student, private, liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington. www.ups.edu. Visit our "For Journalists" page featuring a searchable index of Puget Sound experts on a wide variety of topics at www.ups.edu/news/for_journalists.htm.
Sharon Mihelich
Contact: dos@ups.edu
Copyright © 2008 Last update: Wednesday, October 01, 2003
