Announcing the Equality in Education Scholarship Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 01, 2022

Loudoun’s 1st County-wide LGBTQ+ Scholarship Program

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Equality Loudoun is proud to announce the launch of the ‘Equality in Education’ Scholarship, the first scholarship of it’s kind open specifically to Loudoun County’s LGBTQ+ students. During 2022, the program will be used to select 3 individuals to receive $1,000 scholarships to aid in continuing education. The Equality in Education scholarships are designed to help members of the LGBTQ+ community in Loudoun County who have ambitions of higher education to achieve their goals, thereby benefiting society by lifting up a diverse and inclusive group of educated voices to become the 21st century leaders of tomorrow. As a charitable non-profit organization, Equality Loudoun envisions an inclusive community where LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups are fully embraced by active allies and can live safely and openly.

First envisioned in 2021, the scholarship has been the primary goal of the Board of Directors to fund throughout the past year. Thanks to donations from individuals, groups, and the growing Loudoun Business Allies program, the organization has received funding to help increase from the original goal of serving 1 to now 3 different individuals. “This is an unprecedented opportunity to provide for a community that is often overlooked in educational advancement in Loudoun County.” said Cris Candice Tuck, President. “We have worked hard to help ensure the recipients are selected based not only on how they live up to our organization’s inclusive principles, but to also focus on the intersectionality of those applying to include their race, housing situation, immigration status, students from foster and adopted families, and more. We didn’t limit it based on public or private school, college or trade school. We’ve never seen another scholarship as comprehensive and inclusive as this. We thank the community for their support in this effort.”

The selection shall be based primarily upon the response to the applicant’s essay using a numerical scoring rubric. The goal is to select an applicant who demonstrates a history or goal of embodying the core values of Equality Loudoun: Community, Advocacy, Education and Defense of the LGTBQ+ community. Additional points shall be awarded based on responses to the application to include financial need, intersectional minority status, and other criteria. The deadline to apply is March 15th, 2022. Upon review of all applications, the top 5% of all applicants will be voted on by the Board of Directors. A decision shall be made by April 15th. Awardees shall be invited to receive their scholarship as a guest at an upcoming event.

For more information or to apply, please visit https://www.eqloco.com/scholarships

Founded in 2003, Equality Loudoun (EQLOCO) is Loudoun’s largest nonprofit organization fighting to promote, protect, and defend LGBTQ+ equality in Loudoun County.

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