Bloomsburg University Commission for Gender and Sexuality Awards Scholarships

Please Note: Corrected the names of the donors of the scholarship in the first paragraph.

Bloomsburg, PA (02/11/2022) — The Bloomsburg University Commission for Gender and Sexuality awards two scholarships each year to provide financial support to students in the LGBTQIA+ Community. The first scholarship is endowed directly by the Commission through its annual fundraiser. The second is endowed through the generous gift of friends of the Commission, Joshua Payne '89 and Randy Lyons.

The Commission for Gender and Sexuality awarded Ashley Rumpf, a sophomore education major, the Payne-Lyons LGBTQA Scholarship. The scholarship is given to a current BU student who is least a sophomore academically with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and participates in the LGBTQA programs, clubs, or conferences in support of the club's mission and goals. The scholarship is renewable as long as all the criteria continue to be met.

Emily Harris, a senior majoring in American Sign Language- interpreting major with an art studio minor., and Luna Alexander, a junior majoring in organizational communication with a minor in information and technology analytics, were jointly awarded the LGBTQA Scholarship given to current BU students with financial need and at least 24 credits remaining until graduation. The student must participate in LGBTQA programs, clubs, or conferences and submit an essay detailing how receiving this scholarship will assist their education at Bloomsburg University.

"On behalf of the Bloomsburg University community, I congratulate each of this year's scholarship recipients, and thank the Commission for Gender and Sexuality for its leadership," said BU President Bashar Hanna. "The Commission's work in supporting our students is critical as we strive for a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming campus community for all."

"The Commission wishes to thank all those who worked to make these scholarships a reality as well as congratulating our winners," said Damien Marken, scholarship committee chair for the Commission for Sexuality and Gender.

The scholarships can be applied for by current BU students with financial need and at least 24 credits remaining until graduation. To be eligible, students must participate in LGBTQA programs, clubs, or conferences and submit an essay detailing how receiving this scholarship will assist their education at Bloomsburg University. BU students are encouraged to apply for the 2022-23 academic year.

For more information on the LGBTQA Scholarship, contact BU faculty member Damien Marken at (570) 389-4333 or dmarken@bloomu.edu

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 7,600 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Education, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.