June is Pride Month. It’s a time to celebrate queer identities and revel in queer culture. But, it’s also a time to recognize the unique barriers queer people face and take heightened steps to address them.

So, this Pride Month, IGNITE is introducing our annual Pride Scholarship!

What is it?

The IGNITE Pride Scholarship is a bursary specifically for queer students at Humber or UofGH. Launching Tuesday, June 1, 2021, the scholarship will grant $1,000 each summer to five students who display a strong commitment to their community and who are in need of financial aid.

“Now more than ever, Pride Month is a time for us all to increase our efforts in allyship and address the bias and discrimination that the LGBTQ2S+ community continues to face,” said Julia Ciampa, Student Engagement Coordinator at UofGH. “We have launched the IGNITE Pride Scholarship to recognize, empower and support members of the LGBTQ2S+ community at Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber.”

Why was it created?

The IGNITE Pride Scholarship was developed to confront the financial and social disparities between queer and non-queer members of the IGNITE community. Queer students face a distinctive set of stigmas and experience financial insecurity at higher rates than their non-queer peers. And, according to staff at Humber’s LGBTQ+ Resource Centre, the severity of these hurdles has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Humber Lakeshore Campus (@humberlakeshore)

“We at the LGBTQ+ Resource Centre see first-hand the struggles that many students face when it comes to financial barriers related to their education,” said Matthew Travill, Student Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Coordinator, LGBTQ+ Resource Centre. “Scholarships like the IGNITE Pride Scholarship will hopefully allow students to feel a greater sense of belonging at Humber and also allow folks to fully engage with the campus community.”

How can I apply?

To qualify for the IGNITE Pride Scholarship, you must:

• be a student enrolled at Humber or UofGH on or before June 1, 2021
• self-identify as LGBTQ2S+
• demonstrate leadership qualities, community involvement and financial need
• currently be in Good Academic Standing

Then, if you’re eligible, complete the Pride Scholarship application. The application period for this year’s IGNITE Pride Scholarship will open on Tuesday, June 1 and close on Wednesday, June 30. IGNITE’s scholarship selection committee will review all submissions and distribute the awards throughout July and August. 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Humber College Creators 📸 (@lifeathumber)

IGNITE believes allyship is a verb – our support for the queer community must be upheld by action. From now on, we’re living our pride by funding your future.

Pride is more than a party – it’s a principle. Here’s why.

Follow IGNITE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all things student life.