Emory Gay and Lesbian Alumni (GALA), an interest group of the Emory Alumni Association (EAA), and the Office of LGBT Life have presented the first GALA Leadership Award to Olivia Wise 10C, a junior from Lawrenceville, Ga., double-majoring in women’s studies and English.
Wise was presented with a $2,500 scholarship at the Emory Pride Awards Reception at the Miller-Ward Alumni House on March 2. She earned the scholarship for her demonstrated leadership to positively impact the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities at Emory.
“I am deeply moved and honored to have received such an important award,” Wise said. “As a young scholar-activist and lesbian feminist, this award inspires me to continue to combat all forms of oppression while also motivating me to begin new queer-friendly and LGBT-positive programs at Emory.”
The GALA Leadership Award is the outcome of more than two years of fund-raising by GALA members, who worked to endow the award at $100,000.
“It is amazingly gratifying to know we are supporting students who can continue to matriculate with less financial burden,” said GALA Co-Chair Sharon Semmens 80C 80G, a member of the Emory Alumni Board (EAB). “The award is another example of the University’s ongoing commitment to making the environment at Emory ever more affirming and welcoming to members of the LGBT and allied communities,” she said.
A gift from the father of a recent Emory graduate allowed GALA and the Office of LGBT Life to give the first award in the spring of 2009. The LGBT office is dedicated to increasing the endowment to $200,000, which will provide funding for two awards annually.
Emory was recently listed among the top 100 most inclusive universities in “The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students” and has earned 4.5 of 5 stars in the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index, a national benchmarking tool launched in 2008 by a nonprofit organization called Campus Pride.—Beverly Clark
