The Barney Frank Equality Scholarship

What is the Barney Frank Equality Scholarship?

This scholarship is for students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender and who have lost financial assistance from their parents upon disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.

What is the history of the Barney Frank Equality Scholarship?

The need for the scholarship became apparent when students reported to university faculty and staff a loss of parental financial support for college because of their gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender identity. The scholarship, one of the first of its kind, was publicized in The Advocate magazine and generated a great deal of support via financial donations from its readership across the country. BSU employees and alumni also made donations, leading the scholarship to receive endowment status within two years of its initiation.

The scholarship was named after Massachusetts representative Barney Frank in honor of his advocacy for GLBT individuals. As an openly gay member in the House of Representatives, he is not only a strong role model to our students, but also should be commended for his tireless efforts to bring equality to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

What are the criteria for eligibility?
To be eligible, you must:

~ Be enrolled at least half-time as an undergraduate or graduate student at BSU
~ Have at least one semester completed at BSU
~ Have demonstrated financial need for this particular scholarship
~ Be enrolled and matriculated at Bridgewater State University at the time of award
~ Be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or higher)
~ Self-identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or as an ally to the GLBT community 

Preference is given to self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender students whose family has withdrawn financial support as a result of the student's sexual orientation or gender identity. However, GLBT & ally students who have not lost parental financial support but who have been involved in successful GLBT advocacy will be considered if no other applicant emerges who has lost financial support from his/her/hir family.

How Can I Apply for it?

Apply for the scholarship online at www.bridgew.edu/GLBTA/ScholarshipApp.cfm If you are selected for an interview, you will meet in person with members of the Pride Coalition. Unless written permission is given, all materials will be kept confidential and will only be used to determine award eligibility.

How Can I Donate to the scholarship?

Your tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship fund will help make higher education a possibility for all students.

Please make your check payable to the Bridgewater State University Foundation and designate that the contribution is for the Barney Frank Equality Scholarship. You can send your check to:

Bridgewater State University Foundation
Davis Alumni Center
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA 02325

Unless you specify that you would like the entirety of your donation to benefit the Barney Frank Equality Scholarship, your donation will also support the Bridgewater State University Foundation, and, if you wish, you will be listed as a donor to the Foundation.

 

For more information on the Barney Frank Equality Scholarship, contact Lisa Forest, Coordinator, at 508-531-1408 or lisa.forest@bridgew.edu

Last Modified: April 10, 2012