The ACLU of Utah’s Youth Activist Scholarship Program, now in its seventh year, recognizes Utah high school seniors who are passionate about civil liberties, and have taken a stand to show it. Three winners, selected by a committee of educators and community leaders, are each awarded a $1000 scholarship to be used toward their first year of college. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is January 13, 2014.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2013
CONTACT:
801-521-9862 ext. 101, aclu@acluutah.org
ACLU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SEEKS HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVISTS, OFFERS FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE IN 2014
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – The ACLU of Utah’s Youth Activist Scholarship Program, now in its seventh year, recognizes Utah high school seniors who are passionate about civil liberties, and have taken a stand to show it. Three winners, selected by a committee of educators and community leaders, are each awarded a $1000 scholarship to be used toward their first year of college. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is January 13, 2014.
Past scholarship recipients have come from many parts of Utah including American Fork, Herriman, Kearns, Logan, Midvale, Moab, Ogden, Orem, Pleasant View, Provo, St. George, and Salt Lake City. They have positively impacted their communities by advocating for: racial justice; immigrants' rights; equal treatment for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students; increased reproductive health education; women's rights; and free speech and expression.
"Every year we are amazed by the quality and diversity of civil liberties activism the scholarship applicants represent," says Reinard Knutsen, Office Manager at the ACLU of Utah. "We are excited to see who might apply this year and learn more about how young people are taking an active role in promoting and protecting constitutional rights in their communities."
The winners of the 2013 ACLU of Utah Youth Activist Scholarship awards certainly exemplify this commitment to and passion for civil liberties.
• Sheila Lazcano graduated from Kearns high school and is attending the University of Utah. In high school she worked tirelessly to expand the education opportunities for minorities in the United States, especially those who are undocumented.
• Liesl Darger graduated from Herriman High School and is attending Southern Utah University. Growing up in an Independent Fundamentalist Mormon polygamous family, Liesl has stood up for religious freedom and equality since she was a young teenager.
• Eliza Grainger graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City and is attending Dartmouth College. She has been extremely active in her community as an advocate for sex education in Utah.
”These youth are important role models of political and civic engagement,” says Knutsen, “They actively seek out ways to understand issues of Inequality and injustice in their schools and communities, then advocate for change.”
Graduating Utah high school seniors who have been involved in some sort of civil liberties activism and plan on entering an accredited college or university are encouraged to apply. Winners will be selected, based on specific criteria, by the volunteer Scholarship Selection Committee of community leaders and educators. Click here for more information about the Scholarship Program and previous scholarship recipients >>
The ACLU of Utah operates through public education, legal advocacy, litigation, and lobbying to ensure the constitutional rights and freedoms of everyone living in or visiting Utah.
###
