Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund

The Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund is organized exclusively for charitable purposes, more specifically to provide monetary support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+) emerging adults (between the ages of 18 and 24) residing in the greater San Marcos area.  We do this through our Jeremy O. Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund.

This private fund was founded in 2010 by Texas State alumni and friends as they recognized the progress Texas State has made towards the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+  community yet the lack of resources to support LGBTQIA+ Bobcats.  This inspired the group to establish a scholarship fund with two goals: 1) to offer an academic achievement scholarship and 2) to offer a leadership development scholarship to LGBTQIA+ Texas State students.  Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund® is the first ever, private scholarship dedicated exclusively to supporting LGBTQIA+ Bobcats. 

On September 10, 2018, BPSF and ALLIANCE at Texas State merged forming the very first endowed scholarship for LGBTQIA+ Texas State Students. This merger provided needed support, structure, and resources to our students and community partners. This decision to collaborate enabled the LGBTQIA+ Endowed Scholarship to reach the full endowment level, guaranteeing scholarship opportunities for Bobcat students indefinitely!

In August of 2019, BPSF was transferred to new leadership in order to revitalize the Jeremy O. Torres Emergency Stabilization Fund.  The new Board of Directors expanded the mission to provide monetary support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+) emerging adults (between the ages of 18 and 24) residing in the greater San Marcos area.  This will allow the fund to support emerging adults with minority sexual and gender identities in a time of unforeseen crisis  with one-time, limited financial support to secure their well-being and/or ability to stay enrolled in school.

Achievements Since Our Inception:

• Earned 501(c)(3) status as a federal non-profit organization in 2011
• Provided over $70K in student support
• Funded 55 scholarship and internship opportunities; comprised of over 25 Academic Achievement Scholarships, 8 Leadership Development Scholarships, and 30 emergency stabilization recipients
• Created hallmark annual fundraising events such as the donor Soireé and Drag Out Funny
• Developed relationships with donors leading to significant contributions and the creation of the Legacy Circle, inducting members at the Humanitarian and Benefactor levels

Previous Scholarship Opportunities:

The academic achievement scholarship was a way to celebrate the accomplishment of a LGBTQIA+ Bobcat, recognizing the hard work it takes to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA.  The leadership development scholarship was a way to promote social justice learning to develop strong student leaders at Texas State.  This scholarship covered the costs of attending the LGBTQIA+ focused conference, Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp.  

Through social advocacy, Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund® aspires to:

• Support a culturally diverse community
• Be accessible to all LGBTQIA+ emerging adults, inclusive of all minority sexuality and gender identities, in the greater San Marcos area
• Support LGBTQIA+ emerging adults in the greater San Marcos area during an unforeseen crises