The Whit Hollis Champions of the LGBTQIA+ Community Scholarship

APPLICATION FOR

THE WHIT HOLLIS CHAMPIONS OF THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY SHOLARSHIP

YEAR 2025-2026

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

Provided by: A. Ray Olpin University Union

Value: $3,000

Number of Awards: 1

Application Deadline:   Sunday, February 16th, 2025 by 11:59 PM (MST)

Scholarship Disbursed:  Fall 2025 Semester

UNION SCHOLARSHIP FUND PURPOSE

The purpose of the Union Scholarship Fund is to support the academic achievement of students representing a wide array of backgrounds and experiences; the students are currently attending or plan to attend the University of Utah. The fund promotes the retention and completion of students who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to the mission of the Union. Through this fund, the Union and its scholarship partners recognize students committed to bettering themselves and the communities they serve.

THE WHIT HOLLIS CHAMPIONS OF THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY SHOLARSHIP

The Whit Hollis Champions of the LGBTQIA+ Community Scholarship provides one scholarship of $3,000 to an outstanding undergraduate, or graduate student enrolled or planning to enroll at the University of Utah who advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and who demonstrate a need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses through the financial need essay.

The scholarship committee defines LGBTQIA+ as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/aromantic, or Ally. Additionally, the scholarship committee defines a champion as the ability to inspire others and make positive change around them to advance the interests of LGBTQIA+ people, especially in our compass community. Champions demonstrate self-knowledge, role modeling, integrity, decision-making ability, conflict resolution skills, and vision.

Whit Hollis was a former University of Utah Student Union Director and was in the Union profession for over 43-years. Over his illustrious career in higher education, Whit impacted thousands of students. In particular, he mentored and supported hundreds of students who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, often when students may be struggling the most to find their place. Whit has meant the world to many who have benefitted from his unselfish willingness to help and guide. This scholarship was created to celebrate his legacy and lend support to a community he holds dear. .

ELIGIBILITY

• Candidate must be a champion/advocate for the LGBTQIA+ Community
• Candidates must have completed one academic semester at an institution of higher education.
• Candidates must take a minimum of 9 undergraduate or 6 graduate credits at the University of Utah for the 2024 Fall semester
• Candidates must demonstrate financial need for the scholarship via the financial need essay.
  
• Candidates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 from the University of Utah or prior institution
• Many students who are selected to receive a University scholarship after May 12, 2015, are required by state law to certify under penalty of perjury that they are eligible to receive the scholarship as a U.S. citizen or a citizen of another country who is lawfully present within the United States. Students who have both graduated from a recognized Utah High school and who are awarded a scholarship funded by a private donor are not required to certify their lawful presence before receiving a privately funded scholarship. (This scholarship is a privately funded scholarship.)
• Students who are required to certify their lawful presence in the United States must also be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for verification of their lawful presence within the United States. Once the University submits information to DHS for verification this federal agency may have the legal right to share information with other government agencies. If you do not know whether you are lawfully present within the United States you should seek the advice of an immigration attorney before accepting a University Scholarship that requires certification and verification

RECIPIENT REQUIREMENTS

• The recipients of the scholarship are expected to attend the annual Union Scholarship Celebration event on Thursday, September 18th, 2025. The celebration promotes the scholarship on a community level and will be the time when recipients are publicly recognized and awarded.
• Sign scholarship acceptance forms.
• Schedule a headshot picture

SCHOLARSHIP CONTACT

David Leon

Student Services Manager

University of Utah, A. Ray Olpin Union Building

200 S. Central Campus Dr. Room 235 Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Dleon@union.utah.edu

(801) 585-9709