Scholarships
Money for what comes next.
ALSO Youth scholarships support LGBTQ+ and allied youth in school and beyond it. They are merit and need based, and open to all applicants regardless of immigration status.
Hon. Rick De Furia Enrichment Scholarship
Up to $1,500 for one regularly attending ALSO youth to pursue an enrichment opportunity: creative writing or piano lessons, art classes, a certification, leadership development, career exploration. Anything that helps a young LGBTQ+ person grow.
Created in memory of the Hon. Rick De Furia to honor his belief in investing in the whole person, not only in academics. Sometimes the experiences outside the classroom or lecture hall matter most.
The program must support personal growth: creativity, leadership, career exploration, or skill development.
Who can apply
- LGBTQ+ ALSO youth ages 10 to 24 as of August 1 of the application year
- Lives in Sarasota or Manatee County (a valid government ID must show an address in either county)
- Attends ALSO programs regularly, in person or virtual (at least one program a month)
- Shows proof of a financial obstacle that would otherwise block taking part in the activity
- Not a relative of an ALSO Youth employee
Timeline
- Sept 12Applications open
- Oct 24Applications closeDate being confirmed with ALSO Youth.
- Oct 26 to Nov 8Scholarship committee reviews applications
- Early to mid NovemberRecipient selected and the donor notified
- Mid NovemberRecipient notified, then a public announcement
How scholarship funds are paid
ALSO Youth pays scholarship funds directly to the organization, program, facility, or other approved provider offering the experience. Funds are not paid to recipients or families. You may be asked for registration, enrollment, invoice, or payment information before funds are issued.
Up to $1,500, one time. Applications close Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Date being confirmed with ALSO Youth.
The online form is a Google Form, so you need to be signed in to a Google account to use it. No Google account? Use the PDF application, or email info@alsoyouth.org.
ALSO Youth Founders Scholarship
Formerly the ALSO Youth Betsy Nelson Scholarship, the Founders Scholarship honors the people who started ALSO Youth.
Our founders were alarmed at the high rates of suicide among LGBTQ+ teens. Working with Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and other youth organizations, these volunteers created the safe space drop-in center, services, and programs that became ALSO Youth.
Betsy Nelson was ALSO Youth's first President. She and the other founders sustained and grew the organization through its first decade. Their leadership and courage carried ALSO Youth through the challenges of the 1990s, including the turmoil of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the Defense of Marriage Act, and Florida's ban on same-sex adoption.
Our founders' dedication to LGBTQ+ youth made an impact we will keep celebrating and honoring with this very special scholarship.
Dates for the next cycle are not announced yet.
Greg Jung Scholarship
For a high school senior or college student under 22 who plans to earn a degree in education at an accredited college or university.
A group of Greg Jung's friends created this scholarship as a special way to celebrate his life. Greg passed away on October 23, 2019, leaving his husband, Chris Covelli, and many family members and friends across the country.
Greg was born in Illinois and began his teaching career in Missouri, where he was an outstanding teacher, mentor, advocate, and leader. He served the Missouri NEA as a board member, Vice President, and then President, and he was a founding member of the NEA's LGBTQ+ Caucus, a safe place for LGBTQ+ educators to advocate and learn together.
In Sarasota, Greg was active with Equality Florida and Project Pride SRQ, and he supported many other organizations, including ALSO Youth.
Dates for the next cycle are not announced yet.
Ken Shelin STEM Scholarship
For LGBTQ+ youth pursuing STEM fields, to help remove financial barriers.
Ken Shelin has been a dedicated supporter and advocate of ALSO Youth since its earliest years. For decades he has believed deeply in the power of community, education, and opportunity to help LGBTQ+ young people thrive, and this scholarship reflects those values.
Ken spent more than 30 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, holding leadership roles in several states, helping shape federal regulatory policy, and earning many national awards for excellence in public service. After his federal career, he worked internationally as a consultant in pharmaceutical and biomedical regulatory compliance, and taught and spoke in partnership with the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy.
Ken has been a tireless advocate for equality and inclusion in Sarasota and across Florida. He has served on many civic and government boards, including the Sarasota Planning Board and the Sarasota City Commission, where he won domestic partner health benefits for city employees. He served on the Equality Florida board for six years, including two years as Chair of the Equality Florida Institute.
Through this award, Ken hopes to help LGBTQ+ youth in STEM know they belong, not only in their communities but in the future they are building. Ken lives in downtown Sarasota with his husband, Steve Stockwell, and remains an active supporter of ALSO Youth and LGBTQ+ youth across our region.
Dates for the next cycle are not announced yet.