Summer 2008: Register

Gala affair: From left, Russell Tippins, Board of Trustees Chair Ben Johnson 65C, Sharon Semmens 80C 80G, and Randy New 76C 82L; Tippins and New hosted the event and made a matching gift of $50,000 to the Student Leadership Awards.

Tom Broadnax

A Helping Hand

Alumni group creates student scholarships

The Emory Alumni Association’s Gay and Lesbian Alumni (GALA) is among the first alumni affinity groups to establish a scholarship for students. The organization is raising funds to create two GALA Student Leadership Awards of $5,000 each—one to encourage the development of emerging leadership, and one that recognizes exceptional established leaders among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and allied students. At a fund-raiser this spring, GALA leaders celebrated significant progress. “One of the most important reasons to offer this kind of financial assistance to LGBT students is that they are often at great risk of being socially and financially marginalized, even abandoned by their families and friends,” said GALA chair Sharon Semmens 80C 80G. “Offering awards that are endowed by the University is one way to demonstrate Emory’s commitment to recognizing, welcoming, and celebrating the gifts of these students.”