In October, 1998, the world was stunned by the brutal murder of a 21-year-old college student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, savagely beaten and left to die tied to a fence, because he was gay.
Matthew clung to life for five days while the world held vigil and prayed for his recovery. His death invigorated thousand of events and millions of people across the planet to protest anti-gay rhetoric, violence and bigotry.
The Eychaner Foundation established the Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program in 2000 to honor Matthew, to promote tolerance and non-discrimination in Iowa schools and to assist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iowa high school students with college financial aid.
Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program works with highly motivated students who are interested in advice and assistance from adult mentors to accelerate their academic experience and performance, improve their adjustment to professional standards of behavior, goals, ethics and success and out-perform their age group in transitioning to adult leadership roles. Scholarship awards are based on academic aptitude, academic achievement, community service and financial need.
Applicants should have a high school GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, an ACT score of 22 or better, demonstrable LGBT activism and community service and a history of high moral and ethical standards and conduct.
Code of Conduct
Matthew Shepard Scholarships are awarded to students with a reputation for honesty, integrity and community service, who respect themselves and others and who conduct themselves in such a way as to demonstrate moral and ethical leadership in their own lives and inspire others in kind.
Application deadline is MARCH 31, 2011. More information and applications can be found at the Eychaner Foundation
.
