Scholarship

 

THE 2020 APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN.

The LIVE OUT LOUD Young Trailblazers Scholarship was created to provide financial support to LGBTQ+ identifying youth with financial need who are pursuing a college degree. Through this scholarship, LGBTQ+ youth can apply for funds to pay for education-related expenses to pursue a degree from an accredited college, university, or technical/vocational program. This year Live Out Loud is awarding scholarships of $10,000.00 each.

Application Guidelines and Procedures

  • This award is open only to graduating high school seniors who identify as LGBTQ.
  • Applicants need to be from the Tri-State area including New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
  • Award criteria are based on the demonstration of past leadership and community service involvement, academic credentials, personal essay, letters of recommendation, an individual interview, financial need, and future goals.
  • Applicants must send (a) the completed application form, (b) two letters of recommendation, (c) two essays.
  • Finalists must participate in an individual interview that will be scheduled in April 2020.
  • The scholarships will be awarded at a ceremony on May 5th, 2020.
  • Live Out Loud must receive all applications no later than March 16th, 2020. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Live Out Loud is not required to award all scholarships annually. Awards are given only to applicants approved by the Scholarship Committee based on the criteria above.

Scholarship Awarding Process

Awards will not be distributed until Live Out Loud receives all required documentation, including a copy of the acceptance letter from the institution the student will attend and verification of attendance by the relevant admissions office. Live Out Loud will distribute awards directly to the educational institution only, and only upon verification of attendance.

Completed applications should be submitted as an attachment to Jonathan Sands jon@liveoutloud.info for review and consideration.

To submit your application digitally, download the application and complete all questions. Your completed application may be submitted as an attachment in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format, or as a Google document. The subject line of your email should appear as follows: “[your name in use] Scholarship Application”

Alternatively, applications may be sent via post to:

Live Out Loud
Attention: Scholarship Committee
25 Broadway, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Before mailing in a paper application, please consider your environmental footprint and choose email if possible.

Please direct any questions to Manager of Youth Programming, Jonathan Sands jon@liveoutloud.info.

Scholarship Advising Network

All finalists will have access to Live Out Loud’s Scholarship Advising Network, which offers career advancement opportunities to young LGBTQ+ people who have demonstrated an impact on LGBTQ+ equity in their community. Following are three opportunities the Scholarship Advising Network offers.

1. Shadowing

Finalists have the option to shadow a professional at a corporation that aligns with their field of interest. Our Youth Programming Manager would take the finalist to the corporation and introduce them to their point person at that company, as well as pick them up and work out any of the logistics involved. This option gives students a glimpse at a day in the life of a worker at the corporation and the work involved in their specific career path of interest.

2. One-on-One Meeting

Finalists can also meet one-on-one for coffee or lunch with an employee at a corporation that aligns with their field of interest. The finalist will be able to ask any questions about their prospective line of work, hear the employee’s career advice, and learn about the path the employee took to end up at their current job.

3. Human Resources

Finally, Finalists can meet with an employee from the Human Resources department at a corporation that aligns with their field of interest. This meeting would help advise the finalist on the characteristics the company looks for when hiring, as well as the credentials and experience needed for positions of interest.

Testimonial from 2017’s Young Trailblazers Scholarship winner, Robin Avenoso:

“My experience going to meet with Sheree was great. I was able to make a professional contact with her and she will hopefully help me to secure the bond internship next summer. She showed me some of floor that we were on and told me about the different opportunities in Google. I really enjoyed this experience and hope to have more experiences like this.”

DOWNLOAD THE YOUNG TRAILBLAZERS 2020 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION HERE