CFHS students win Shepard scholarship - W/CF Courier

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/06/08/news/metro/doc484b62dc3f7a3152146043.txt


Cedar Falls High School graduates Briana McGeough, left, and Michelle Bamber, right, both received Matthew Shepard scholarships.
MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

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A high-dollar scholarship award came as a surprise for two recent Cedar Falls High School graduates. Michelle Bamber and Briana McGeough were recently awarded the gold level Matthew Shepard Scholarship from the Eychaner Foundation in Des Moines. The scholarship is valued at about $35,000 and covers tuition, books and fees at a state Board of Regents-governed university. This is the first time the gold level scholarship has been awarded to two students from the same high school in one year.

Until recently, McGeough, a bisexual, wasn’t even eligible for the scholarship, which rewards top students who are active in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Originally only openly gay and lesbian students were eligible for the award. When the award was opened up to bisexual and transgender students Bamber, a lesbian, felt her chance at the honor was slim given McGeough’s academic successes and activism. "I knew they had never given two scholarships to students from the same school, and Briana is just amazing," she said.

Michael Bowser, the foundation’s scholarship coordinator, said the scholarship committee was pleased to see two students take such a leadership role in their high school. "Usually you go into a school and one person is a strong leader and there is another who just kind of attended meetings," he said. "These two both clearly made a difference." Both are on their high school’s Gay/Straight Alliance executive board and have lobbied for the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s civil rights code.

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What a wonderful opportunity for these young women, and my best wishes to them.

Debi, Jr. worked with them in Drama/Speech Team/GSA/Harmony all three years he was in high school (Briana won All State individual honors as a freshman!!). They are both talented young women. I wish both of them would stay right here and go to school at UNI, but at least they both want to move back to the Cedar Valley when it comes time to 'settle down'.

Two years ago Cedar Falls had another Matthew Shepard scholarship winner - but not the top level - only like $5,000.00 a year (heh, ONLY!)

d.