Now accepting applications for our 2023 scholarship
PFLAG Cincinnati's
Tom & Marie Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Program
PFLAG Cincinnati Awards Three Tom & Marie Jenkins Memorial Scholarships
PFLAG Cincinnati's Tom & Marie Jenkins Memorial Scholarship Program 2023 Annual Awards program recognized three young leaders: Christian Hall, Syd Steck, and Hailey Velker.
Since 1992, PFLAG Cincinnati has awarded over $230,000 in scholarships to 160 outstanding young individuals who show a high level of involvement within the LGBTQ+ community while demonstrating academic success and leadership. Each honoree is impressive and will make positive contributions in the LGBTQ+ community.
Christian Hall graduated from Dixie Heights High School and will attend the University of Kentucky in the fall where he will major in Trumpet Performance and Music Education. He co-led his school’s SAGA club (Gay-Straight Alliance) with an emphasis on fundraising for LGBTQ+ charities and educating others on legislation around LGBTQ+ rights. He also looked out for other transgender students at his school and provided direct support to them.
Syd Steck is pursuing their Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Cincinnati, and they plan to use that degree to work with the LGBTQ+ community. They have had multiple internships supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, including at the LGBTQ Center at the University of Cincinnati and at the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion at Miami University where they worked to start a resource for transgender and gender-diverse students called the Open Door Clothes Closet.
Hailey Velker graduated from Norwood High School and will attend Ohio University in the fall where they will major in Engineering. They were a dedicated member of the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (SAGA) where they educated the school community about queer history and the use of preferred pronouns. Hailey was also an advocate for installation of a gender-neutral bathroom at the school.
Scholarship recipients are announced during Pride month and awarded at a PFLAG meeting in June or July. Applicants are reviewed by the PFLAG Scholarship Committee. A special thanks goes to all of our nominees, nominators, and members of our scholarship committee including Dan Ley, Committee Chair, Austin Hopkins, and Kristin Lally.
Scholarship recipient, Christina Hall with PFLAG Scholarship Committee Chair, Dan Ley.
Each year PFLAG Cincinnati offers scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender and sexual minoritiy (LGBTQ+) students and their allies residing in or attending college in the greater Cincinnati area.
The scholarship awards are a reflection of PFLAG’s commitment to a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed, inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
The Cincinnati Chapter of PFLAG will recognize outstanding individuals who show a high level of involvement within the LGBTQ+ community while demonstrating academic success and leadership. Click on the purple button below to learn more.
Since the program’s inception in 1992, PFLAG has awarded over $230,000 in scholarships to 160 talented and deserving LGBTQ+ students and their allies. In 2021, the scholarship was renamed to the Tom & Marie Jenkins Memorial Scholarship in recognitian of Tom & Marie's lasting impact on PFLAG Cincinnati and the LGBTQ+ community in the greater Cincinnati area.
Applicants are reviewed by the PFLAG Scholarship Committee. Awardees are announced during Pride month and awarded at a PFLAG meeting in June or July.
Read the information at this link first for purpose, eligibility, terms and application deadline.
Three application options:
Fill out, upload files, submit online, edit responses if needed
Download, fill out, & mail in
Copy/paste into word processing program, fill out & mail in