Do you know an LGBTQ young person starting college or continuing education within the next year who has been a strong leader in your community? Someone who has made a difference in your community and who is a role model among peers? Nominate them for the SMYAL Youth Leadership Award!

To be eligible, youth must:
- self identify as part of the LGBTQ community
- not be older than 24 years old
- be starting post-secondary education (2 or 4 year college, university, trade school, technical school etc.) within the next year (by Spring of 2023)
- Youth can be graduating seniors, youth who took a gap year or two, youth who are completing a GED this Spring, etc.-- as long as they are planning to start continuing education this upcoming year.
- either graduated from a local high school (DC, MD, or VA) or completed GED in DC, MD, or VA

We recognize that leadership may look different this year! Projects and goals may have been cancelled or shifted due to the global pandemic. Leadership can look like:
- holding space for your friends and building community virtually
- keeping your GSA alive during the virtual or hybrid setting
- involvement in social movements like BLM, climate action, gun control, etc.
- starting a virtual awareness campaign
- finding creative ways to reach your goals during a pandemic
- being a strong resource for your peers
- arts activism

If you know a youth leader who fits the above-- fill out this form! We'll reach out to them and invite them to apply. We also encourage you to reach out to the youth directly to invite them to apply. Together, we can support LGBTQ youth in pursuing their educational goals!

Applications from youth are due April 3rd. Winners will be notified by June 11th. For more information, visit www.smyal.org/scholarship