Young adult leaders across the country are making change, speaking out, and taking the reins of leadership on their campuses and in their communities. Campus Pride this past week recognized three outstanding LGBT and ally college students who are doing just that.
Marco Flores, Tovah Leibowitz, and Jacob Tobia were chosen as this year's recipients of the Campus Pride Voice and Action National Leadership Award.
Marco Flores, of the University of California at Berkeley ('12), is a gender and women's studies and LGBT studies major, an undergraduate student organizer for Queer People of Color (QPoC), and a student representative for the Immigrant Students Issues Coalition.
Tovah Leibowitz, of New York University ('12), is double-majoring in gender and sexuality studies and documentary filmmaking. Tovah serves as the president of the NYU Queer Union.
Jacob Tobia, of Duke University ('14), is studying human rights advocacy and leadership. Jacob serves as director of LGBTQ policy and affairs in the Duke University Student Government.
The Campus Pride Voice and Action National Leadership Award is an honorary recognition highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of young adult leaders at colleges and universities across the United States. The award, the only of its kind, is bestowed upon undergraduate students who use their "voice" to speak up and take "action" to create change for LGBT and ally issues within their campuses, local communities, and region of the country.
Young adults today on our college campuses are the real champions of our movement and are seldom recognized for their efforts in the fight for LGBT equality. These LGBT and ally young people play a vital role nationally making a difference -- and in the spirit of the "It Gets Better Project" demonstrate how to make it better by living life, giving hope, and inspiring others.
Flores will be honored at the upcoming Western Regional LGBTQUI Conference at University of the Pacific, in Stockton, Calif., Feb. 24 through 26. Leibowitz and Tobia will receive their awards at the Northeast LGBT Conference at Sage Colleges in Albany, N.Y., March 30 through April 1. Each of the students also receives a free artist, speaker, or entertainer of their choice, courtesy of OUTmedia, to appear on their college campuses in 2012.
Please join Campus Pride in recognizing these three remarkable young adults as well as the 2012 Top 12 Campus Pride Leaders in Action who were also acknowledged for their leadership and activism. A total of 25 applications were submitted this year for the national honor. Any college student may apply for the national award online until Nov. 19, 2012.
Congratulations!