Scholarships

In 2002, Hofstra University established an unprecedented scholarship program for students engaged in service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The program is designed to demonstrate Hofstra's commitment to equality and support for LGBT individuals. The program now includes the Hofstra Law School Fellowships for Advocacy for the Equality of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People, as well as another scholarship for undergraduates, which is described here.

Undergraduate Scholarships

The intent of this scholarship is to promote activism in support of the LGBT community. This scholarship is open to any applicant, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, who has a demonstrable record or strong potential in support of LGBT activism. The award committee recognizes that so-called "straight allies" can have a dramatic impact on LGBT issues, and strongly encourages their applications.

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic ability and experience promoting activism in support of the LGBT community. The amount of the scholarship is dependent on academic ability, with high achieving students eligible for full tuition scholarships and summer stipends for academic or activist pursuits. Recipients of the scholarship will choose a faculty mentor who will serve as a source of support and advice in addition to the student's academic advisor.

The Mildred Elizabeth McGinnis Endowed Scholarship

Another scholarship, the Mildred Elizabeth McGinnis Endowed Scholarship, was established to assist LGBT students in the Humanities. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of demonstrated economic need to an undergraduate LGBT student majoring in any Humanities discipline with at least a 3.0 GPA. (If no suitable LGBT student is identified, the scholarship will be awarded to a student who can show assistance to the LGBT community along with all the other terms of the requirements.)

Application Process

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic ability and their demonstrable record or strong potential to support LGBT activism. In addition to the usual Hofstra application process, applicants for the scholarship must submit an essay that discusses past, current, and/or future LGBT activism, or describes the applicant's thoughts and convictions on a particular LGBT issue. The applicant can also provide supporting letters and documentation as evidence of past or current activism.