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Black College Hands Out Scholarships To Students Who Advocate For ‘LGBTQ Issues’

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Amber Randall Civil Rights Reporter
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A famous historically black college announced a new scholarship fund this week for students who are concerned with gay issues.

Spelman College professor Beverly Guy-Sheftall launched the Levi Watkins Jr. Scholars Program, which is a combination of a scholarship program and a lecture series, reports the Root.

The program, started with a pledge of $100,000, will give two self-identified sophomore advocates of the gay community $25,000 scholarships that can be renewed. As part of the program, the two recipients will try to bring attention to the work of various gay activists in historically black colleges and at large, Guy-Sheftall said.

As well, the lecture series of the program will bring activists, community organizers and scholars to the campus.

“As an institution that upholds a supportive student experience, this gift will present new opportunities for critical conversation on race and sexuality with distinguished scholars and thought leaders, and provide a platform to recognize campus LGBTQ advocates and their scholarly achievements,” Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell said about the scholarship fund.

Guy-Sheftall created the fund in honor of her cousin, Dr. Lee Watkins, a civil rights activist and the first Black chief resident of cardiac surgery at John Hopkins University Hospital.

“He had a special relationship with Spelman College, and just as he prepared students for careers in medicine, so does Spelman. He was an advocate for social justice throughout his distinguished medical career and Spelman also encourages social change activism,” Dr. Guy-Sheftall said in a statement.

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