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The Alumni Association created the CWRU Pride Ohio Leadership Scholarship fund to benefit LGBT students and allies. It was developed for the improvement, growth and support of an LGBT-inclusive environment by LGBT alumni and supporters of ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ. The scholarship provides recognition or enables financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate or graduate students who are working to make impactful actions and advance the mission of the LGBT community at ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ, in Cleveland or nationally through scholarship, research or leadership activities. The 2014 scholarship winners are:

Carolyn Oatis

Carolyn Oatis, a first-year student and Spectrum's treasurer, is one of two inaugural winners of the CWRU Pride LGBT Ohio Leadership Scholarship, sponsored by the Alumni Association. Oatis received the award after members of a panel reviewed her essay and deemed the piece compelling, inspiring and most worthy of the award. Her attendance and participation at The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference in Kansas City is part of the award. Full financial coverage of all of her travel expenses is also included. Oatis is expected to return from the three-day conference with ideas to improve the campus climate for LGBT students as well as report on conference sessions. Additionally, she is invited to attend the Lavender Graduation in April at the Alumni House, where President Barbara R. Snyder will personally recognize her achievement.

Cheri Smalley

Cheri Smalley, a graduate student at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, was awarded $1,200 by the CWRU Pride LGBT Ohio Leadership Scholarship Selection Committee to assist with attendance and participation in the 2014 CWRU Amsterdam study abroad program. The award was based off of Smalley’s involvement and support of the transgender community from undergraduate studies and her participation in dare2careusa in Cleveland. Smalley will report back lessons and ideas gleaned from her experience in Amsterdam. The goal of the trip is to use this knowledge to influence public policy or suggest adoptive practices to further improve the LGBT climate within the greater Cleveland area. Additionally, Smalley is invited to attend the Lavender Graduation in April at the Alumni House, where President Snyder will personally recognize her achievement. For more information on the LGBT Alumni Network, visit .