About
Dear Poet friends:
I write to you today with a message about an initiative close to my heart.
One of my proudest memories at Whittier College is founding the College’s first Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) student organization, TOBEGLAD, which served as a support system for students and involved them in crucial political issues affecting the LGBT community. The organization's focus was and continues to be ending discrimination through educating the Whittier College community.
Reflecting on my own experience, Whittier is a place where students get involved and seek a supportive community. In all that I do personally and professionally, I strive to create a world in which all students feel valued and seen for who they truly are in a safe and affirming environment.
I am therefore delighted to share a partnership with the College. We would like to fund a new PRIDE Endowed Scholarship for Whittier College students.
The scholarship will provide need-based awards to members of Whittier’s LGBTQIA+ student organization, or those Whittier College students who have demonstrated experience in or commitment to working with LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Many LGBTQIA+ college students today face challenges in their personal lives, and some are even abandoned by their families for their identities. This scholarship will help remove barriers to education and send a strong signal of support from all of us, allowing Whittier’s LGBTQIA+ students to thrive as their authentic selves.
As with any endowed scholarship at Whittier, the minimum threshold required to reach full endowment is $50,000. The fund will be designed to exist in perpetuity, and awards will be made each year from the interest earned through the investments.
The College has already received early commitments from several individuals totaling more than half the required amount. I ask today for your participation to help us get closer to the goal.
Ways to Participate
- Please help spread the word about this scholarship in your personal networks, either by word of mouth, by sharing this email, or via social media.
- Please make your own gift – of any amount – on the Big Poet Give on Wednesday, March 24.
I am offering the following challenge: if the Poet community can collectively raise $5,000, I will match it with my own gift of $5,000. That will be $10,000 raised for the scholarship in just one day!
With gratitude,
Vincent Vigil, Ed.D.
Whittier College Class of 2002
Updates
Challenge #2 has been met
Congratulations once again, Poets! You have successfully met the second challenge issued by Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty sal johnston. Because you have collectively added $3,000 more to the scholarship, sal will match it with his own $3,000 gift.
A 2nd challenge announced!
By collectively raising $5,000 (and more!), you have unlocked a $5,000 gift from Vincent Vigil ’02. Well done! Inspired by your passion and commitment, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty sal johnston is offering a gift of $3,000 if the Poet community can come forward once again and add $3,000 more to the scholarship.