GALA ND/SMC Announces Recipients for LGBT Student Scholarship

GALA ND/SMC, the LGBT alumni/ae group for Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, is pleased to announce the recipients of the2016/2017 LGBT Student Scholarships.  This year’s recipients are Samuel Cho ND ’18 and Maranda Pennington SMC ’17. Congratulations to both winners!
 
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Sam is double majoring at Notre Dame in Computer Science and Graphic Design.  He has been active in PrismND, the Asian American Association and will be co-chair of the student Diversity Council next year.  For his community service project, Sam would like to organize an event that celebrates the LGBTQ community and recognizes its importance in relation to Notre Dame’s campus similar to other diversity groups such as Latino and Asian American.  As Sam shared with the selection committee, “I would very much like to change Notre Dame for the better and really increase the visibility and awareness of the LGBTQ community on campus….”.
 
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Maranda is a Nursing student at Saint Mary’s with a minor in Biology.  She has been Vice President of SAGA and has held many positions for the SMC Dance Marathon which supports the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.  Next year, she looks forward to being the president of the Dance Marathon event.  For Maranda’s community service project, she feels that “sharing personal stories allows us to see the humanity and commonality in one another”.  To accomplish this, she would like to document the stories of LGBTQ SMC and ND students, and create a video and/or blog to be shared throughout both campuses.
 
Student Scholarship Benefit- June 26, 2016 Malibu, CA
In support of the Student Scholarship program, GALA will be holding its second major fundraising benefit in Malibu CA on June 26th.  Featured at the event will be Bryan Ricketts ’16, openly gay ND Student Body President and special guest speaker, Notre Dame graduate and West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath ’04.  Information and registration can be found at:  LGBT Student Scholarship Benefit.  All alumni and friends are welcome to attend.
 
About The Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship, which was created in the spring of 2015, is to provide financial assistance and support to full-time undergraduate students who identify with the LGBT community. This scholarship will assist the recipients with reducing the financial costs incurred while pursuing their education as well as allowing them to make a positive impact at Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and/or the South Bend community.

Learn more about LGBTQ scholarships at the Campus Pride National Scholarship Database

About GALA-ND/SMC
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GALA-ND/SMC is the Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College.  The national group numbers over 900 members, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) alumni/ae, faculty and staff from the schools, as well as their families, friends, and allies. 
 
The purpose of GALA-ND/SMC is to: promote solidarity and friendship among GLBT graduates, former students, and friends of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College; provide financial and moral support to GLBT student groups at Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College which support GALA’s mission; sponsor, direct, and participate in activities of any nature including charitable, educational, spiritual, and athletic, which further the interests of GLBT alumni/ae and friends of the two schools; facilitate, through education, better communication with University and College officials; and increase the visibility of LGBT alumni/ae at Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and worldwide.

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