Scholarships

Scholarships recognize the importance of education in strengthening our community through the preparation of future leaders within diverse communities and fields of interest. 

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund welcomes the opportunity to assist individuals and groups in developing scholarships targeting LGBT and allied students.  Whether it’s to memorialize a departed loved one or colleague, or to advance learning in a particular field, please contact us about your interest in creating a scholarship.

We currently administer five scholarships:

• The Justin Eng Scholarship at The University of the Arts

• The Kay Longcope Scholarship Award of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

• The Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

• The Robert Posner Artists Fund at the University of the Arts

• The Sean Halpin Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is the first scholarship at the University of Arts targeting LGBTI students.  Justin Eng was an aspiring musician whose life was cut short in 2003.  Eng’s friends raised money for a scholarship with the goal of inspiring and assisting younger members of the LGBTI community who need financial assistance in reaching their artistic goals.  The first award from this fund was made in 2007 to Larissa Marie Lovejoy, a senior voice major.  Click here for application and additional information. For questions, please contact Chris Bartlett at cbartlett@dvlf.org or 215.563.6417, ext. 117.  

The Kay Longcope Scholarship Award of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

Kay Longcope was a respected journalist who wanted to encourage young LGBTI students interested in journalism careers.  Through a bequest in her will, she has provided funds for this purpose which the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund will oversee for the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.  This scholarship award is still in the formative stage and more details will be available shortly. For the PDF application and additional information, please visit http://www.nlgja.org/students/longcope.htm. You may also download the application here. For questions, please contact info@nlgja.org.

The Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

Leroy F. Aarons dedicated his life to journalism.  He believed that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community could advance if the news media did its job by simply telling the truth.  This simple but visionary idea became the foundation for the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, NLGJA.   Aarons realized early that improving coverage had to start in the training camps for young journalists—the journalism schools at the nation’s colleges and universities.  In NLGJA’s 15th year, the Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award was established to honor Aarons’ memory and continue the work he began when he founded NLGJA.  The 2008 scholarship of $5,000 was awarded to Matthew K. Leung, class of ’09 at Vassar College.  Read DVLF's interview with Matthew Leung here. For the PDF application and additional information, please visit http://www.nlgja.org/students/aarons.htm. You may also download the application here. For questions, please contact info@nlgja.org.

The Robert Posner Scholarship Award

Robert Posner was an artist whose life was marked by generosity.  His life’s desire was to be an artist and while he achieved that goal, his true legacy was his ability to give to others, especially those less fortunate.  This award seeks to provide funds for education to LGBTI students pursuing the study of visual arts at the University of the Arts.  Selection will be based on visual artistic talent and passion for an individual’s artistic calling.  A declared major in visual arts is desirable but not required.  Click here for application and additional information. For questions, please contact Chris Bartlett at cbartlett@dvlf.org or 215.563.6417, ext. 117.  

The Sean Halpin Memorial Scholarship Fund

For continuing LGBT students attending law school in the greater Philadelphia region.  For the application, please click here.  For the guidelines and the general description of the Sean Halpin Memorial Scholarship Fund, click here.  For any additional information, please contact DVLF.  

Additional Scholarship Resources for LGBT Students

http://www.hrc.org/scholarships - The Human Rights Campaign lists over 200 LGBT-focused scholarships in their database.  Check it out!

http://www.washburn.edu/sobu/broach/glbt-scholar.html - This website provides a listing of scholarship and financial aid resources, including scholarship search engines, for LGBT students.

http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/lgbt-students.htm - CollegeScholarships.org provides a listing of national and regional scholarships for LGBT students and students of LGBT parents.

http://www.sapphirefund.org/scholarship.php - Sapphire Fund's Tony Sparacino Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Tony Sparacino. To be eligible, applicants must be LGBT identified or supportive, enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university in Philadephia, and seeking a degree in an art program/major.

http://www.pointfoundation.org - The Point Foundation provides financial support, mentoring, leadership training and hope to meritorious students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The application process is open to all LGBT students nationwide regardless of level of education.

http://www.breadrosesfund.org - The Lax Scholarship Fund at the Bread and Roses Community Foundation was established by the late entrepreneur Jonathan Lax. The fund supports gay men from or attending school in Philadelphia and the four surrounding counties.

http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/gay.phtml - FinAid.org is a general scholarship search engine. Information about various scholarships for LGBT students is available here.

http://www.finaidfacts.org/scholarships.htm - FinaidFacts.org is a free scholarship and financial aid information website.