Point Scholars
Point is supporting a record-breaking class of 755 Point Scholars during the 2024-2025 academic year. Learn more about some of the Point student body by reading about some of our students below!
Morgan Beaven
flagship scholar
Wells Fargo Scholarship
Arizona State University
Public Policy
Morgan (he/him) was born and raised in a rural, conservative corner of Western Kentucky. He attended Catholic schools throughout elementary, middle, and high school where he was taught that to be anything other than straight or cisgender was a 'sin'.
Understanding the struggle of being gay in rural America, he was driven to make a change and lend support to those like himself. In the fall of 2018, he cofounded the Kentucky Young LGBTQ+ Democrats, a caucus under the Kentucky Young Democrats advocating for laws to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to outlaw the harmful practice of conversion therapy in Kentucky.
Morgan attends Arizona State University and studies Public Service and Public Policy, with the aspiration of attaining an MPA in Nonprofit Management. He hopes to serve in the Peace Corps and his dream is to one day create and operate his own nonprofit organization addressing LGBTQ+ issues.
Dev Bryant
flagship scholar
Clemson University
Computer and Information Science
Dev Bryant (they/them) was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. They are currently a Computer Information Systems major at Clemson University, aiming to continue intertwining their passion for technology and fostering LGBTQ inclusion and equity.
At Clemson University, Dev has served in multiple leadership roles, such as the Sexuality and Gender Engagement Director for Student Government and the Take Back Pride March chair. Within these roles, they have ensured that this responsibility is never taken for granted and all voices are amplified equally. Dev's proudest moments have been serving as one of the two inaugural student speakers at Clemson University's Take Back Pride March, developing dialogue initiatives with students and administration and founding the Kick-Off Pride Festival.
After graduation, Dev aims to work within data analytics, specifically focusing on reforming data collection techniques and questions regarding the LGBT community.
Jericho Galindo
BIPOC scholar
Phoenix College
Psychology
Jericho Galindo (Jericho/He/Ze) is an artist, nonprofit professional and advocate with a passion for health equity. Jericho worked in public health increasing access to gender-affirming care and support services for gender-expansive and transgender individuals and manages community-based social services. Ze is pursuing a bachelor's in psychology.
Dedicated to fundraising, mentorship, and visibility as a proud trans masculine human his message is "Keep going, it's possible for you, but you don't have to do it alone." Awards he has received include the Brandon Packer Community Spirit award, Humanitarian of the Year, and Pride of Excellence. As a Drag Artist and a nonprofit professional, ze aims to provide equitable change for the transgender community.
Eldred Lesansee
flagship scholar
Took Trust Scholarship
Columbia University
Law
Born and raised in the Pueblo tribes of Jemez and Zuni in New Mexico, Eldred Lesansee (he/him) is passionate about the protection of Native American cultural heritage. After witnessing the sale of sacred Pueblo cultural items in Paris, Eldred earned a Fulbright scholarship to research avenues to halt the sale of sensitive Indigenous cultural items worldwide. Through his research, Eldred gained professional experiences at the U.S. Embassy in France and UNESCO.
In 2019, Eldred joined the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department where he led the behavioral health, cultural heritage, and economic development initiatives. Now, Eldred is pursuing a Juris Doctor at Columbia Law School to elevate his service to ensure that Indigenous peoples can live their most authentic lives, especially 2SLGBTQ+ relatives. Eldred holds a B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University and an M.A. in International Development from Sciences Po. Eldred also serves as co-founder and secretary for the South Pacific Islander Organization.
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Jimena Meza Gonzalez
flagship scholar
NBCUniversal Scholarship
California State University, Long Beach
Film and Media Studies
Jimena Gonzales (she/her) is a first-generation college student pursuing a bachelor's degree in film editing at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). She is also pursuing a Chicano and Latino Studies minor. She plans to use her film and ethnic studies education to bring awareness to the intersectionality many Latinx people face and to inspire future Latinx filmmakers.
Now at CSULB, Jimena is a part of the Educational Opportunity Program and a student assistant at the CSULB library. She has completed her first year with a 4.0 GPA. Jimena plans to have film editing internships, join the Women in Film club, study abroad, continue writing and directing her films, volunteer at her university's multimedia company, and to volunteer at local nonprofits serving underrepresented communities like her LGBTQ+ and Latinx community.
Monisha "Mo" Pirela
BIPOC scholar
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
Architecture
Monisha "Mo" Pirela (she/her) is a recent graduate of Central Piedmont Community College, and a native of New Bern, NC, currently residing in Charlotte, NC. She has held positions as the Student Equity Council's chair of communications and public relations, been named an NC Scholar of Global Distinction, and been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
In addition to being named a Community College Global Affairs Fellow, Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, Truist Honors Scholar, Fund for Education Abroad Alumni, and Levine Foundation Scholar, she also received the 2023 Charlotte Pride Champion of Pride Scholarship Award.
Her academic focus combines architecture with social justice, aiming to impact societal structures both locally and globally. Monisha is a future architect who plans to contribute to innovative housing projects worldwide and to work for the U.S. State Department.
Warren Small
flagship scholar
Amazon Scholarship
Howard University
Political Science
Warren Small (he/they) grew up in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, Illinois. In the Spring and Summer of 2020, in collaboration with the Alive Center, his local teen center, he started Alive with PRIDE (Providing Resources for Identity and Diversity Experiences), a summer camp and drop-in program for LGBTQ middle schoolers. Warren worked throughout that summer and the 2020-2021 school year with LGBTQ youth and led them through topics including Internalized homophobia, mental illness, bullying, and family/social acceptance. This program inspired Warren to become more interested in politics and to change the landscape for LGBTQ youth on a national level someday.
Warren studies political science major at Howard University. On campus, they are involved with the Howard University Student Association in the Student Advocacy Department, serving underrepresented student groups. He was a recent legislative intern with Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and currently serves as a legislative intern for Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). In addition, they have recently advocated for LGBTQ gender-inclusive housing at HBCU campuses through the White House HBCU Policy Initiative. He hopes to attend law school upon graduation and pursue a career in public interest law.
