This year, Pride foundation will award the most it ever has in scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and straight ally students throughout the Northwest. Six Alaskan scholars will receive a combined $21,500 from Pride Foundation’s scholarship program.
A statewide committee of volunteers worked together to review applications and interview finalists. Scholarship awards support LGBTQ and straight ally students who have shown leadership to advance the LGBTQ community.
“I was impressed with the caliber of applicants — we have many talented, smart, and mature young activists in Alaska,” said volunteer Adam Ottavi of Fairbanks. “It’s important to provide direct support to LGBTQ students and allies because discrimination against our community persists, especially within our state. And, like most families, support from within strengthens our community and gives us a stronger sense of autonomy.”
Karter Booher, a transgender scholar raised in Anchorage, AK and currently attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA adds:
“I am becoming a more independent person, more sure of who I am. I am becoming the man I am supposed to be. In understanding my gender identity I have become more invested in myself. I am taking control of my life and where I am headed. Sometimes it hurts, and there is a common, human, struggle in that – especially within the queer community – but I am becoming. I am headed somewhere and I am incredibly excited about that direction.
Pride Foundation’s scholarship program began in 1993. Since then, we have awarded almost $3 million dollars to 1,200 students either from or studying in the U.S. Northwest states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The scholarships are intended to support various programs — 2 year degrees, vocational programs, and graduate studies for students of all ages.
Here is a full list of this year’s Alaskan scholars:
Karter Booher – Karter is from Anchorage and majoring in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, WA. Karter was awarded the Rieke Leadership Award at PLU and also serves as the Queer Ally Student Union Co-Comissioner. He hopes to use his education to change the lives of others and help young people find the words to discuss the social justice issues they are passionate about. Karter received the Pride Foundation Community and Pride Foundation Community Alaska Scholarships.
Richard Carter – Originally from Palmer, Richard is currently pursuing a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) in Juneau. He is currently the President of the Gay-Straight Alliance at UAS and is a member of Alpha Phi Omega and the Golden Key International Honor Society. Richard received the Baker Merriweather and Pride Foundation Community Alaska Scholarships.
Annie Derthick – Annie is pursuing a PhD in clinical-community pyschology at the University of Alaska-Anchorage with a Rural & Indigenous focus. Her research interests include psychotherapy for GLBT individuals and couples and the psychological effects of discrimination. In her spare time, Annie enjoys cooking and exploring the beauty of Alaska. Annie received the James Crump Memorial Scholarship.
Tonei Glavinic – Born and raised in Anchorage, Tonei recently graduated from American University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, with a minor in Justice, and a certificate in Women, Policy and Political Leadership. This fall, Tonei will begin a Master of Arts program in Social Justice and Community Development at Loyola University in Chicago. Tonei created the TONI Project, an online resource for transgender people to share, discover and transform policies and practices at universities across the country. Tonei received the Political Leadership, James Crump Memorial, and Pride Foundation Community Alaska Scholarships.
Katelyn Lanier-Moylan – Katelyn was born in Homer and raised in Anchorage by two loving and supportive mothers. They taught her to respect herself and to respect others, even when many people did not extend the same tolerance towards her family. Katelyn was the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance at West High School, where she recently graduated with honors. She will be attending Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and plans on double majoring in political science and gender studies in order to help foster a more tolerant and respectful world for her generation and for many generations to follow. Katelyn received the Pride Foundation Community Alaska Scholarship.
Joseph Marks – Joseph has spent time living in Anchorage, Juneau, and Kluckwan and is a graduating senior at Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) in Sitka, Alaska. Out of the 200-400 remaining fluent speakers of Tlingit, he is one of the youngest. While at MEHS, Joseph founded the Gay Straight Alliance and was awarded the ACLU of Alaska’s Youth Activist Scholarship. He plans to major in International Relations and language in order to become a translator and break barriers between cultures. Joseph received the Pride Foundation Community Alaska Scholarship.
Congratulations to all of the 2012 Pride Foundation Scholars
Pride Foundation is a northwest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community foundation promoting LGBTQ philanthropy and providing grants and scholarships.
Tiffany McClain is Pride Foundation's Alaska Region Development Organizer. She can be reached at tiffany@pridefoundation.org.
