MAKING STRIDES. The Andrew Cray Memorial Higher Education Fund is now accepting applications for the new year. Cray, a Chippewa Falls native who died in 2014, is shown with his wife, Sarah. (Photo via cvlgbt.org)

A higher education fund created to honor the memory of a Wisconsin-born trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights is now open for its seventh year. The Andrew Cray Memorial Higher Education Fund is accepting applications for the new year until April 28. Initially established as the Andrew Cray Memorial Scholarship in 2016, the Higher Education Fund – now under the umbrella of the Chippewa Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center – has become a significant resource in supporting youth looking to launch into higher education.

While it may have undergone a name change, the goal of the fund remains the same: “to assist the LGBTQ+ youth of northwestern Wisconsin in achieving their dreams of secondary education, and to honor the memory of a Chippewa Falls native who played a big role in healthcare policy reform for LGBTQ+ Americans,” said Jessie Timme, vice president of the scholarship for the LGBTQ+ Community Center.

The fund was established in honor of Andrew Cray, a Chippewa Falls native named by President Barack Obama “Champion of Change” for LGBTQ+ causes, who passed away from cancer in 2014 at the age of 28. Having received a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from the University of Michigan, Cray took a stand against LGBTQ+ healthcare discrimination and more through his work in Washington, D.C. Among other things, Cray worked on health care rights for transgender people at the National Center for Transgender Equality.

To apply for the scholarship, students are required to have a GPA of at least 3.0 at a school in northwestern Wisconsin; to identify as LGBTQ+; and to be planning to pursue higher education. Furthermore, “applicants must be able to demonstrate a history of leadership through extracurricular activities, and involvement in LGBTQ+ advocacy,” Timme said.

The amount of students awarded depends on funding and how many students apply. The HEF relies entirely on donations. For the current 2023 school year, eight high school students were awarded scholarships.

The HEF was established at a time when the number of students seeking higher education was rising, and this has only increased. Particularly, the Chippewa Valley LGBTQ+ Center aims to ensure all eligible students take advantage of the opportunity to apply. “The need/demand for such a scholarship has definitely expanded – especially in rural areas. Making sure to have a presence in those rural school districts will be an important area of focus going forward,” Timme said.

To donate, or for more information about the fund and scholarship, visit the CVLGBTQ+ website as well as their Facebook page.