PFLAG Awards Scholarships

PFLAG Awards Scholarships!

On Tuesday, June 13 at the PFLAG monthly meeting, four deserving students received $2,000 scholarships for their college education. This is the twenty-fifth year that PFLAG has awarded scholarships. This year’s recipients are Erin Cash, Julia Draznin, Deanna McPeek, and Alexander Polt-Gifford.

The 2017 Scholarship Committee, chaired by Dan Ley, selected the winning students. Committee members Margaret Adriatico, Austin Hopkins, and Alynn Rousselle presented the recipients. The Committee based its selections on the applicants’ academic record, activities, future plans, and references. Special emphasis was placed on students who help to fulfill the PFLAG missions of providing support, education, and advocacy in the community.

The scholarship winners demonstrated a wide range of accomplishments in support of the LGBT community, such as starting a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at their school, advocating for LGBT-inclusive theater productions, and creating a musical with LGBT themes. The continued work by students such as these will certainly make the world a better place.

Funds for the PFLAG scholarships came from the Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire (ISQCCBE), Paul Delph Scholarship Fund, Playhouse in the Park Pride Night, and the generosity of many other donors and members. PFLAG thanks these organizations and individuals for their contributions and looks forward to continuing success in supporting deserving students.

Here is a brief introduction to the recipients:

Erin Cash graduated from Mariemont High School and will attend the University of Cincinnati in the fall. She plans to major in Neuroscience, with minors in Violin Performance and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She plans to become a neurologist who better understands what her patients are going through. Erin was one of the founding members of her high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance; she was actively involved in designing t-shirts and planning events. She was also involved in the National Honor Society and Leadership Council.

Julia Draznin attends the University of Cincinnati where they are double majoring in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. They are creating a nonprofit organization called Committed to Assisting Students which will create programming for middle and high school students in the form of curriculum for after school programs that reduce harmful behaviors in students. Julia is a part of the first class of the Rustin Scholar program at UC, which is an honors society for LGBTQ students and allies. They also are a member of the Women in Leadership and Learning, a program that focuses on intersectional feminism and leadership. Deanna McPeek graduated from Hamilton High School and will attend Wright State University. She plans to double major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and eventually become a doctor. She was on the tennis team and involved in student council, drama club, academic quiz team, and other clubs and organizations at school. Deanna also founded and facilitated the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. She was also instrumental in successfully advocating for the inclusion of LGBT characters in the school’s play through an essay writing campaign.

Alexander Polt-Gifford graduated from the Schilling School for Gifted Children and will attend the University of Southern California in the fall. He will major in history and also study theater. Alexander will pursue a career where he can give back to the LGBT community. Alexander has been involved in Student Government, various leadership programs, youth groups, and drama and dance performances. Alexander is writing a musical that dramatizes the link between Jewish ideals and queer aspirations.