Who is eligible for the Markowski-Leach Scholarship?

Self-Identification: Identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+). University Enrollment: Plan to attend one of the following universities: San Francisco State University; Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, San Francisco; UC College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings); University of San Francisco; or California Institute of Integral Studies. Students applying to or planning to transfer into these universities are encouraged to apply, even if their application has not yet been accepted. Degree Program: Enroll in a program leading to a degree or teaching credential. Enrollment Status: Be enrolled full-time, as defined by the university. Academic Performance: Undergraduate applicants must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all prior college-level coursework. High school students applying for admission will be considered eligible upon admission to an affiliated university. Graduate applicants must be eligible to enroll in a graduate program at their chosen university. Leadership and Commitment: Demonstrate a high level of commitment and persistence in achieving significant positive goals in academics, employment, community work, or volunteerism, with a clear trajectory toward a positive result. This goal does not need to be LGBTQ+-focused.

Markowski-Leach Scholarship

Name: Markowski-Leach Scholarship

Award Amount: $2,500 annually for up to two years

Information and Eligibility:

The Markowski-Leach Scholarship is dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals pursuing post-secondary education at select California universities. Established through a bequest from the estate of Jim Leach and Tom Markowski, the scholarship aims to assist in the education of LGBTQ+ individuals who are likely to make substantial contributions to society, thereby enhancing society’s perception of LGBTQ+ people and increasing the LGBTQ+ community’s self-esteem. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Self-Identification: Identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+).
University Enrollment: Plan to attend one of the following universities: San Francisco State University; Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, San Francisco; UC College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings); University of San Francisco; or California Institute of Integral Studies. Students applying to or planning to transfer into these universities are encouraged to apply, even if their application has not yet been accepted.
Degree Program: Enroll in a program leading to a degree or teaching credential.
Enrollment Status: Be enrolled full-time, as defined by the university.
Academic Performance: Undergraduate applicants must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all prior college-level coursework. High school students applying for admission will be considered eligible upon admission to an affiliated university. Graduate applicants must be eligible to enroll in a graduate program at their chosen university.
Leadership and Commitment: Demonstrate a high level of commitment and persistence in achieving significant positive goals in academics, employment, community work, or volunteerism, with a clear trajectory toward a positive result. This goal does not need to be LGBTQ+-focused.

Deadline: Applications are typically due by March 31 each year. Please check the Markowski-Leach Scholarship website for exact dates.

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Request to Update or Remove This Scholarship. The CollegeWhale ID number for this Scholarship is #15865. This Scholarship was added in March 2025 and last reviewed by a member of our staff on March, 2025.

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This Scholarship is tagged with the following criteria: California / LGBT / March

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