NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF GAY AND LESBIAN SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS
Contact:Rochelle Diamond
Pasadena, CA 91109
www.noglstp.org
chair at noglstp dot org
PRESS RELEASE. For immediate release.
“OUT TO INNOVATE™ SCHOLARSHIPS”
Scholarships Awarded for LGBT STEM Students™
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals Announces 2017/2018 Out to Innovate™ Scholarship Winners Fox and Bi
Pasadena, CA, August 25, 2017—Today, the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP) is proud to announce the winners for the 2017 NOGLSTP Out To Innovate™ Scholarships, made possible by an Innovation Generation grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation.
The winner of the 2017 Out to Innovate™ Undergraduate Scholarship is K. Ryder Fox. Ryder is a senior at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology majoring in Physics with a focus in Atmospheric Sciences. Ryder is spending a second summer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research working on hurricane rapid intensification. Previously Ryder has spent time at the Langmuir Laboratory working on convective downdrafts and worked as a television news videographer covering severe weather. Ryder has been an advocate for all underrepresented students at NMT, helping to change policies, presiding over the NMT oSTEM chapter, and working on the board of Women and Minorities for the American Meteorological Society. Upon receiving the scholarship, Ryder expressed “I am deeply grateful to NOGLSTP for the Out to Innovate Scholarship. Without this support, I would not be able to finance my final year of undergrad. As a transgender person who did not have access to the sciences until my thirties, this support allows me to validate my own dreams while also continuing to advocate for greater visibility of LGBTQ+ people in STEM.”
The winner of the 2017 Out to Innovate™ Graduate Scholarship is Stephanie Bi, a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Stephanie received a BA at the University of Chicago, where she majored in Biological Sciences and English Language and Literature. While an undergraduate, Stephanie was the co-founder and co-president of its Out in STEM (oSTEM) chapter. Stephanie has conducted an independent project surrounding undergraduate medical education and LGBTQ healthcare disparities, which she has presented at several conferences. She has also volunteered at free HIV testing events with the Howard Brown Health Center, a major LGBTQ healthcare organization. Upon receiving the scholarship, Stephanie expressed, “I am sincerely honored to receive this scholarship, a recognition that has further bolstered my commitment to LGBTQ justice. As a medical student, I am particularly passionate about reducing the appalling healthcare disparities that LGBTQ patients face, and hope to achieve this through my future clinical practice, advocacy, and research. I am deeply grateful to NOGLSTP for helping me work towards this dream.”
These scholarships are intended for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) programs who are either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or an active ally of the LGBT community. The scholarships are designed to promote academic excellence and increased visibility of talented LGBTQ+ students in STEM careers.
Funded at $5,000 each, the scholarships will be for the 2017 fall academic year. As the embodiment of pride in LGBT and STEM communities, all scholarship applicants will receive a complimentary student membership in NOGLSTP. The scholarship winners will attend Out to Innovate™ 2019, a two-day summit for LGBT students, faculty and professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
This NOGLSTP program is marking its 7th year as a source of educational support. Contact scholarships at noglstp dot org for more information on Out to Innovate Scholarships. For information about NOGLSTP, contact Rochelle Diamond, NOGLSTP at chair at NOGLSTP dot org.
About NOGLSTP
NOGLSTP was established in 1980, incorporated in the state of California in 1991, and was granted IRS 501 (c) 3 nonprofit status in 1992. NOGLSTP is a professional society that educates and advocates for LGBTQ people in STEM. NOGLSTP presents educational symposia and workshops nationwide and fosters dialog with other professional societies, academia, and industry to facilitate diversity and inclusion in the workplace. NOGLSTP is an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is a participating professional society member of MentorNet®, a sustaining member of the National Postdoctoral Association, a member of the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute Presidential Advisory Project’s Coalition, a partner with the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, and a founding member of the E-Week Diversity Council. For more information, visit the website at www.noglstp.org or contact scholarships@noglstp.org.
About MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION
The Motorola Solutions Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions. With employees located around the globe, Motorola Solutions seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships and fostering innovation. The Motorola Solutions Foundation focuses its funding on public safety, disaster relief, employee programs and education, especially science, technology, engineering and math programming. For more information on Motorola Solutions corporate and foundation giving, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/foundation.