Applicants sought for LGBTQ scholarship program

Imperial Valley LGBT resource center is accepting applications through May 31 for the Marilyn Monroe Cazares Hope Scholarship.

The scholarship is open to all LGBTQ Imperial Valley residents planning to pursue college or a vocational training program in the next four months. Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

■ Identify as LGBTQ+

■ Be a high school senior, college student or vocational program student with a minimum GPA of 2.0

■ Be an Imperial County at time of application

■ Plan to attend college or a vocational program full-time within the next four months (however, the committee will consider half-time applicants who provide an explanation of the circumstances preventing them from attending school fulltime)

Award of all scholarships will be calculated upon a well-written application essay, demonstration of financial need and compliance with all application requirements.

In addition to the essay and application form, applicants must submit the following:

■ Their most recent high school, GED college, or vocational program transcript

■ A document demonstrating financial need (a FAFSA form or a tax form)

■ At least one signed letter of recommendation

■ The application and all of the required documents must be submitted electronically to scholarship@ivlgbtcenter.com.

Marilyn Monroe Cazares was a 22-year-old transgender woman from Westmorland who was found murdered in an abandoned building in Brawley on July 15, 2020. The homicide remains unsolved.

By offering this scholarship, the IV LGBT Center said it hopes to increase college access and success for some of Imperial County’s most marginalized residents. Scholarships may be used for the payment of tuition, academic fees, room, board, and the purchase of educational materials, books or equipment.

The scholarship winners will be announced at the Queer Prom, to be held June 11 at the Best S.T.E.P. Forward gym, 260 E. Main St.