Application Due March 1, 2027
INTRODUCTION
Here at the Southwest Wisconsin Rainbow Alliance (SWRA), we understand the obstacles and discrimination Queer identifying students face in both their communities and education systems. As advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, we have created an LGBTQ+ scholarship fund in Southwest Wisconsin as an initiative to give students with these identities the opportunity to share their stories. We want Queer students and fervent allies in southwest Wisconsin to understand that they are an important part of our community, and their voices should be heard. We are not looking for the students with the highest academic achievements, nor are we looking for students with impressive resumes – rather, this scholarship was established to give LGBTQ+ students and allies in the community the opportunity to share their story and experience while growing up with their Queer identity or allyship. The SWRA would like to hear your own stories in your own words and request that generative AI is not used in writing your personal statement or goal statement
PRIVACY POLICY
We understand that many students who are Queer identifying may not be out to their families, friends, and/or communities. We do not want this to be a barrier for applying to our scholarship; thus, your story, name, and identity will be kept completely confidential upon request. Your application will not be shared outside of the SWRA scholarship evaluation committee. If you are a recipient of this scholarship and request confidentiality, your name and likeness will not be included on social media or through any media outlets and we will present the funds under the name of “Southwest Wisconsin Community Scholarship.”
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. You must identify as part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum or an ally.
2. You must be an incoming student during the 2027-2028 academic year at an undergraduate university or technical college.
3. You must originate from a technical college, high school, continuation school, or nontraditional G.E.D school from Grant County, Iowa County, Lafayette County, Richland County, or Crawford County.
SUBMISSIONS
Please provide the following:
- One letter of recommendation.
- A personal statement no more than 650 words.
- A statement of goals and aspirations no more than 250 words.
LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION
There is ONE required letter of recommendation. You are NOT obligated to disclose information about your personal identity to the individual who is writing your letter of recommendation. If you are asked what it is for and are not comfortable saying the title of the scholarship, you may simply refer to it as a scholarship for “Southwest Wisconsin Community Scholarship”. In this letter of recommendation, we are looking to obtain insight on your work ethic and respect in your environments. Your teachers, counselors, and employers are welcome to write this letter.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Please provide a personal statement describing your Queer experience in Southwest Wisconsin in 650 words or less. This prompt is very open-ended, and you may write about anything that relates to your experience as an individual that identifies with the LGBTQ+ community or how your allyship became a focus for you. You may choose to include any obstacles or barriers that you may have faced or struggled with your gender identity and/or sexual identity. We are not looking for perfect grammatical structure, nor are we looking for an extravagant resume. We simply want you to share your story.
GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS STATEMENT
Please describe your goals and aspirations and the steps you plan to take to achieve them. (250-word maximum).