Mercury Herndon

I am incredibly grateful for this help from the Gender Expansive & Transgender Scholarship Program. With the help I have received here, as well as my Pell Grant and help from the University, I can continue studying in the field I love, and with any luck, continue on to medical school, then the broader medical field, to continue advocating for and helping others like me.

Dariel Gomez

Thank you so much, Omni Inclusive, for selecting me to be the recipient of the Gender Expansive & Transgender Scholarship this year! With this financial aid, I can secure my financial independence and fund my housing for the coming semester. The aid from this scholarship will also help me accrue savings to attend my upcoming study abroad program in Argentina next summer which I was just recently accepted into. More importantly, though, I will continue to champion the mission and values of Omni Inclusive by being a role model for gender-expansive and trans individuals in Florida during a time when our community is under political siege and social marginalization. As a sociology major pursuing certificates in gender studies and queer studies, and a student activist involved in youth civic engagement initiatives, I hope to use my education and the opportunities awarded to me to further the fight for equity and justice for all my gender-expansive siblings. When one of us is given the chance to move up in the world, it is our responsibility to give back to the rest of the community, and I hope to use my voice and platform to benefit all LGBTQI+ folks in Florida.

Corey Ruzicka

Dear Omni Inclusive, Thank you so much for this incredible scholarship opportunity. The cost of college seems to grow with each day, and this scholarship will go a long way toward helping me reach my goal of paying for college without student loans. I truly appreciate the work that your organization performs. When I researched your organization, I was impressed to learn how you seek to ensure greater inclusion in various workspaces. Above all, receiving this scholarship makes me feel seen and heard. Sincerely, Corey Ruzicka