Four Yale Scholars Recognized by Nation's Largest LGBTQ Scholarship Fund

By Yale LGBTQ Center | Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Point Foundation logo with Yale Sterling Library in background and rainbow gradient.

Nation’s largest LGBTQ scholarship fund recognizes Yale scholars’ leadership, with new application cycle closing December 5.

The Yale LGBTQ Center proudly celebrates four exceptional students who have been awarded the prestigious Flagship Scholarship from Point Foundation. Their achievements highlight indvidual excellence and underscore Yale’s long-standing commitment to fostering LGBTQ leadership.

Founded in 2001, the Point Foundation has become the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit. Their mission is to empower promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership. Over the years, numerous Yalies have earned this distinction, creating a legacy of LGBTQ leadership that spans across various fields.

The Point Foundation offers several scholarship programs. The Flagship Scholarship supports students pursuing bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The BIPOC Scholarship, introduced more recently, focuses on supporting LGBTQ students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to intersectionality and diverse representation.

Yale LGBTQ Center staff promoting Point Foundation.

Yale LGBTQ Center Leadership Team celebrates Point Foundation scholarship recipients.

Among this year’s recipients are Alejandro Sánchez Flores, a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Jackson School of Global Affairs, and Sofia Arlen, a Yale College student in the Class of 2025. Alejandro, who serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the Yale LGBTQ Center, shared: “My work at the Center has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of LGBTQ issues in higher education. The Point Foundation scholarship will allow me to expand on this work and bring these insights to a national platform.”

Sofia emphasized how the Point Foundation has shaped her understanding of community and leadership: “The Point Foundation has shown me the power of a queer support network, which in turn has inspired me to engage with LGBTQ+ organizations both on- and off-campus, including the Yale Undergraduate LGBTQ+ Business Alliance and Out for Undergrad. My engagement with these organizations has been incredibly meaningful, and I am grateful to the Point Foundation for providing a robust network that will allow me to find additional opportunities to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community after I graduate from Yale.”

The impact of the Point Foundation scholarships extends beyond financial support. Scholars receive mentorship, leadership training, and access to a vast network of LGBTQ professionals, enhancing opportunities for research, internships, and professional development that align with their academic and advocacy goals.

Samuel Byrd, Yale LGBTQ Center Director and Stonewall Librarian, emphasizes the significance of these achievements: “These scholarships represent more than financial support – they are investments in the future of LGBTQ leadership. By empowering queer professionals during their academic journey, we’re fostering voices that will shape inclusive policies and create lasting change across all sectors of society.” 

The Point Foundation’s next application cycle for Flagship Scholarships closes on December 5th. Interested students are encouraged to attend the drop-in hours with current scholars on December 3rd to learn more about the application process and get their questions answered.

Flagship Scholarship Drop-In Hours Point Foundation Scholarships