LGBTQ+ Scholarships

Matthew Shepard Scholarship

History:

The Matthew Shepard Scholarship Committee was organized in the fall of 1998 by 18 concerned individuals from Weber State University, Ogden, and Salt Lake City. The Weber State University Matthew Shepard Scholarship was the first scholarship in Matthew's name in the country. The committee created the scholarship because they were horrified by Matthew's tragic death and wanted to create a resource to serve other LGBTQ students. The scholarship endowment fund has since been supported by several hundred donors. Donations have been received from across the country and around the world however, the majority of donations and donors are from Northern Utah. On November 2, 2002, Judy Shepard visited WSU to deliver the keynote address at the WSU Diversity Conference. In her keynote, and at the following reception  in her honor, she continued to stress her strong support for the scholarship at WSU and its importance in helping to stop hate crimes: "Our family would be most honored to have a scholarship fund in Matt's memory . . . such a generous offering." The purpose of this endowed scholarship is to support students at Weber State University who identify as a sexual or gender minority as well as their allies. It is the goal of this scholarship to educate individuals about issues concerning sexual and gender minorities and to create an atmosphere of support and nurturing for all students at Weber State University.

The Weber State University Matthew Shepard Scholarship strives to: 

  • Build awareness of the academic achievements and community service of sexual and gender minority students at Weber State University. 
  •  Encourage recipients to complete their studies and become engaged, supportive community leaders.
  • Raise the hopes and aspirations of sexual and gender minority students, many of whom strive against great obstacles. 
  • Build a healthier and more positive understanding of sexual and gender minorities both among themselves and in the public mind. 

Eligibility:

  • Students must be enrolled at WSU, with a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
  • Students with higher GPAs will receive a higher consideration by the selection committee.
  • Recipients should have completed a minimum of 24 hours of college credits, at least 12 of which must have been earned at WSU.
  • Cash award: Up to full tuition (in-state) and fees. The award may be applied to tuition, fees, books, or other educational expenses, to be disbursed per semester, based on eligibility, tuition rates, and available endowment funds. At the discretion of the Matthew Shepard Scholarship Committee, in addition, partial scholarships may be awarded depending on funds available in the endowment and applicant pool.
  • Previous applicants and recipients may reapply in subsequent years.

Application Procedure - open for Spring 2024 semester! 

 

Chandler and Kimberly Holbrook LGBTQ Scholarship

The Chandler and Kimberly Holbrook LGBTQ Scholarship has been created to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students or allies. Two scholarships will be awarded each year for a total of $2,500, split across two semesters.  

Eligibility:

  • The scholarship will be awarded to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender students or allies. 
  • Students must be enrolled at WSU, with a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester while receiving the scholarship.
  • Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA to apply for the scholarship, students with higher GPAs will receive a higher consideration by the selection committee.
  • Cash award: Up to full tuition (in-state) and fees. The award may be applied to tuition, fees, books, or other educational expenses, to be disbursed per semester, based on eligibility, tuition rates, and available endowment funds. At the discretion of the scholarship selection committee, in addition, partial scholarships may be awarded depending on funds available in the endowment and applicant pool.
  • Previous applicants and recipients may reapply in subsequent years.

Application Procedure - open for Spring 2024 semester! 

 

Lawrence J. Hall and Patricia I. Weckel Scholarship

The Lawrence J. Hall and Patricia I. Weckel LGBT Resources Advocate Scholarship Endowment was created to provide support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer students, LGBTQ+ allies, or students who have demonstrated service to the LGBTQ+ community. George and Mary Hall and Mary Ann Miller acknowledge that the antidote to prejudice and alientation is education. 

Eligibility:

  • The scholarship will be awarded to lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender students, LGBTQ+ allies, or students who have demonstrated service to the LGBTQ+ community. 
  • Students must be enrolled at WSU, with a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester while receiving a scholarship.
  • Students must have at least a 2.0 GPA to apply for the scholarship, students with higher GPAs will receive a higher consideration by the selection committee.
  • Cash award: Up to full tuition (in-state) and fees. The award may be applied to tuition, fees, books, or other educational expenses, to be disbursed per semester, based on eligibility, tuition rates, and available endowment funds. At the discretion of the scholarship selection committee, in addition, partial scholarships may be awarded depending on funds available in the endowment and applicant pool.
  • Previous applicants and recipients may reapply in subsequent years.

Application Procedure - closed for the 2023-2024 academic year.

For more information or assistance with questions or comments, please contact:  

Katelyn Blanch
Administrative Specialist 
Women's Center and LGBT Resource Center
katelynblanch@weber.edu
801-626-6090