Point Alum Geovany Barrueta started 2025 with exciting news. The Florida College System Activities Association named him the December 2024 Student Government Student of the Month. Geovany served as Vice President of the Student Government Association at Broward College, the fourth-largest community college in the nation, and graduated in May.
In February, Point Alum Audrey Stewart joined Lambda Legal’s Board of Directors, where she focuses on the organization’s Civil Rights and Social Action initiatives. Audrey is Google’s Global Head of Impact and Research and serves as a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ Corporate and Philanthropic Council.
Pictured from left at the event: Jay Schumacher, Point Scholar Noah, McCree O’Kelley, Simone Grice, Seth Persily, Terrence Mays, and Michael Matthews.
Also in March, Point Scholar Jazmyn helped organize the Massachusetts Teen Spoken Word Festival and assisted with the Massachusetts Poetry State Festival. Jazmyn shared, “I never would have gained the confidence or initiative to join the Mass Poetry team as their marketing and outreach leader if it weren’t for Point Foundation and the valuable lessons I learned at the National Leadership Conference and beyond.”
Point announced our first-ever application cycle for our Internship & Professional Development Award in May. This summer, we supported 23 Point Internship & Professional Development Award recipients and nine Kadel and Gerhardt Internship Award recipients. One recipient, Harry, is an undergraduate student studying computer science. Harry expressed gratitude: “Your generosity provided essential living and travel support that let me focus on building AI tools and engaging directly with LGBTQ+ communities...Thank you for supporting future leaders in HIV advocacy and research.”
In May, we celebrated our graduating scholars at both Taste of Point DC and the LA Graduation Cocktail Reception. Over 100 Point Scholars graduated in spring 2025. Point Alum Warren Small is pictured, in the center, with other Point Scholars and Alumni in the DC area. He spoke at Taste of Point DC sharing, “By the end of the 2024 National Leadership Conference, I had built lifelong friendships with scholars from around the country who shared my interests in shaping the future with LGBTQ+ professionals at its center.”
In June, after successfully raising $500,000 in 100 days, Point announced our largest scholar class ever. During the 2025-2026 academic year, we’re supporting 1,000 Point Scholars!
In July, 25 Point Scholars attended the New Scholar Orientation in Los Angeles. They had the opportunity to take a private tour of the ONE Archives, the world’s largest LGBTQ+ archive.
Two new Point Alumni headed to Europe in August. Jo Lew went to Switzerland to take part in the 2025 pre-sessions for the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review. They discussed campus repression, free speech, surveillance, and immigration in the USA. Jo shared, “This landscape is tough, and these problems are tougher, but I believe advocates for human rights and justice are the toughest.”
Meanwhile, Jenna Smith was off to England to start her master’s program at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Jenna is the third Point grad in a row to be named a Rhodes Scholar. She follows Isaac James, who completed a Master of Public Policy in August 2025 and currently serves as the Executive Director of OutVote. Jess Chiriboga received the Rhodes Scholarship in 2022 and is working towards a Master of Philosophy in History.
In September, Grace Wickerson became the third Point Alum to be named to the Grist 50, an annual list of climate justice leaders. Grace serves as the Senior Manager of Climate & Health for the Federation of American Scientists. In this role, they helped lay the groundwork for the 2025 Heat Policy Agenda, which aims to have extreme heat classified as a natural disaster. Grace joins fellow Point Alumni Shayle Matsuda (2022) and Alexia Leclercq (2023) as Grist 50 members!
Point Scholar Jahn shared his work in HIV prevention in the Journal of the American Medical Association in September. Jahn is pursuing a doctorate in public health with a focus on implementing peer-led HIV prevention and intervention programs in the Latine communities of South Florida.
This fall semester, Point Scholars are growing as leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Dolce & Gabbana Flagship Scholarship recipient Quinn was appointed as the undergraduate student trustee to her college’s Board of Trustees. She is in her final year of studying fashion and business. Fellow Point Scholar Maw Karly started her new job as the LGBTQ+ Project Coordinator at a community college. She is balancing this position while pursuing her undergraduate degree in accounting.
Point kicked off November with our fifth annual Out in Higher Ed Week. Point Scholars celebrated Out in Higher Ed Week with events on their campuses featuring Point stickers and door hangers.
After touring Wells Fargo, Zelan joined fellow Point Scholars, Alumni, and supporters at the NYC Homecoming Cocktail Reception. This event featured Point Scholar Nathan who shared his experiences as a queer doctoral student in theology. This event was made possible thanks to sponsorship from Wells Fargo and individual donors Jules Bolte and Tom Bolte.
Click here to watch the 2025 Out in Higher Ed Week Panel featuring Point Scholars and Alumni.
Point Scholars are now preparing for their final exams and wrapping up the semester. The support of the Point community has helped them make it this far, and we’re excited to see what the next year will bring. As we look toward 2026, Point is committed to supporting LGBTQ+ and ally students for years to come. With your support, we’re shaping the future, one student at a time.
Click here to encourage current Point Scholars as they complete their fall semester!