Point Foundation Opens 2008 Application Season

New Application Cycle Begins

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit, announces the opening of its 2008 application season. Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2008-09 school year are eligible to apply for the prestigious, multi-year scholarships. The application deadline for this year's scholarships is March 1, 2008.

Point's rigorous selection process for its prestigious scholarships is highly competitive and requires demonstrated academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement and financial need. Particular attention is paid to students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The selection process begins with on-line applications and concludes with face-to-face interviews with selected finalists in April. Point Regent and Selections Subcommittee Chair Shelley Fischel comments, "The application and selection process is rigorous but rewarding. To be part of this process is both a great honor and a great responsibility."

Current Point Scholars attend the nation's foremost higher educational institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Rice, UC-Berkeley, UCLA and many other outstanding institutions.

On average, a Point Scholarship awards $13,300 in direct financial support, in addition to the programmatic support Point provides in leadership training and mentoring. The average amount of support devoted to each scholar is greater than $30,000. Point's multifaceted support for scholars extends far beyond their time in school.

Point Scholars agree to maintain a high level of academic performance and to give back to the LGBT community through the completion of an individual community service project each year. In addition, scholars are matched with mentors from the professional world through Point's Mentoring Program; mentors lend their professional expertise and career guidance and become important role models to scholars. The Mentoring Program and Point's professional support network equip scholars with skills to ensure a lifetime of leadership, success and well-being.

Since its inception in 2001, Point Foundation has invested over $3 million in the education of outstanding LGBT students. The organization's growth over a short period of time is noteworthy. In its first year, Point received 268 applications and granted eight scholarships. In 2007, approximately 900 applications were submitted and a record-breaking 38 students were granted scholarships. As of January 2008, there are 81 Point Scholars currently enrolled in school and 29 Point Alumni.

Executive Director & CEO Jorge Valencia noted that the need for funding and mentorship among LGBT students is vast. "Despite gains in civil rights and progress in our culture, a great number of LGBT youth in this country face enormous challenges simply because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity," Valencia said. "We expect a significant increase in applications this year."

Wells Fargo, Time Warner, HBO as well as other corporations, individuals and supportive organizations have partnered with Point to offer Named Scholarships. Please contact Development Directors Chris Fritzen at chris@pointfoundation.org or Michael Marino at michael@pointfoundation.org for more information.

To schedule an interview with Jorge Valencia or a Point Scholar in your area, please contact Communications & Marketing Manager Jennifer Kolmel at Point Foundation. Hi-res photos are also available upon request.

For additional information on Point Foundation, please visit: http://www.pointfoundation.org.

For information on how to apply for a Point Scholarship, please visit: http://www.pointfoundation.org/apply.html.