The rights of LGBTQ people nationwide are under attack. In the past year, legislators erased LGBTQ identities from schools and sports, and cut funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on college campuses. At the same time, assaults on LGBTQ people in classrooms across the country increased.
To support LGBTQ leaders who will fight to protect LGBTQ rights and culture, Point Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit providing LGBTQ college students scholarships and support, welcomed its largest scholar class ever for the 2024-25 academic year. Point selected 755 student leaders from thousands of applications for its scholarship programs. This cohort of Point Scholars will receive financial aid, leadership programming, mentorship, and community support as they pursue their goals in postsecondary and higher education.
“Today’s rollback of rights for LGBTQ individuals, women, and BIPOC people exemplify why we need diversity in leadership,” said Point Executive Director and CEO Jorge Valencia. “With this record-breaking class, Point demonstrates its ongoing commitment towards fostering diverse LGBTQ leaders who fight for Pride and equality in every industry.”
By helping LGBTQ students’ access and succeed in postsecondary and higher education, Point helps scholars compete for jobs, live more fulfilling lives, and create a more equitable world for LGBTQ people everywhere. Point’s alumni are already making a difference worldwide in all sectors including law, government, healthcare, teaching, film, athletics, and more.
Meet the 2024-2025 LGBTQ Students of Point
Ramon Salado (he/him) is a continuing Point Flagship Scholar with a Fry-Garatea Family Scholarship studying political science at Stanford University. With the help of a grant from Stanford, Ramon plans to create a collection of images reflecting his southern California upbringing in the Coachella Valley. The project will explore imagery specific to Mexican American audiences, questioning identity and self-perception in relation to one's environment and experiences of exclusion from the dominant culture.
After university, Ramon plans to continue his education in law school, eventually practicing immigration law, and returning to his desert community in Southern California.
Breanna Wheeler (they/she) is a new Point Flagship Scholar with a Barbey Family Scholarship. They are a queer, first-generation Native American student, public health researcher, policy advocate, and mental health worker. An alum of the University of California, Berkeley, Breanna has several years of professional experience working within Native American public health systems. Breanna has been awarded the Presidential Scholarship at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health to pursue her master’s degree with a concentration in maternal and child health. Breanna's ultimate goal is to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist, primarily working with BIPOC, Native American, and LGBTQ youth populations.
Point Community College Scholar Denali Bosco (any pronouns) is a genderfluid student studying veterinary science at Linn-Benton Community College. As an officer in the Future Farmers of America, they have helped run a food drive, bagged cans, planted trees, assisted in roadside cleanup, educated the public on farm-related activities, and helped multiple farmers with land restoration projects. Denali aspires to be both a large and small veterinarian, able to both travel and have a stationary clinic.
Point BIPOC Scholar Nicolette Alexandra Brito-Cruz (they/them) is a first-generation student studying journalism, media, and Italian at Rutgers University. During the summer of 2022, they studied abroad at John Cabot University and created the Juliet Rose Review, a literary and art review featuring art and photography by people of color. As one of the only people of color in their classes, they felt giving individuals a place to express themselves was crucial. Nicolette received and published submissions in Italy, Egypt, France, Kuwait, and the United States. As a Penn World Scholar, Nicolette is deeply committed to fostering global understanding and promoting inclusion. Their primary passion lies in finance and investments, focusing on private equity, real estate, and capital markets.
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Point’s growth is thanks to the generosity of supporters, including lead partners (in alphabetical order): 1-800-FLOWERS.com, Amazon, Apollo Foundation, Brandeis University, Bumble and bumble, CBRE, CNA, Coach Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Dolce & Gabbana, EY, FedEx, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, JCPenney, Lord Abbett, MacKenzie Scott, MUFG, NBCUniversal, PA Foundation, Synchrony Bank, The Sallie Mae Fund, TIAA, Toyota, Ulta Beauty, Victoria’s Secret & Co., The Walt Disney Company, Wells Fargo, and more.