Senior Rowan Jolkowski.
For many students, paying for college is a daunting task. Whether it be securing scholarships or struggling to build community, there’s a multitude of reasons students fail to get access to a college education. These financial and social burdens are often felt even stronger by minority and LGBTQ students who often lack the resources of their peers.
One way to alleviate these struggles for LGBTQ students is via the Dru Project, a non-profit organization that was set up by friends of Drew Leinonen to preserve his memory after he was shot in the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The organization grants five scholarships to students all over the U.S. in hopes of guaranteeing LGBTQ graduation and can make opportunities and pathways for future queer students
President of PRISM and senior Rowan Jolkowski was one the of five recipients of this national scholarship, and they hope to use it to finish their education at Doane and continue to spread LGBTQ advocacy around the campus.
“This scholarship helps me pay for my last year in college and therefore makes it possible for me to save some money so I have something to lean on when I graduate in May,” Jolkowski said. “It also helps me realize how much I have actually accomplished the past few years. It can be easy to get bogged down by all the hate, negativity and unnecessary politicization of human rights based on fear of untrue narratives, and I have felt an increase in subtle hostility recently, making me feel a noticeable sense of constant anxiety.”
Jolkowski is the president of PRISM, the student-led LGBTQ organization on campus. They hope to bring resources to queer students, provide education on LGBTQ issues to everyone on campus and ultimately build a safer Doane for people of all identities.
“These types of recognition help remind me that what I’m doing is important and does make a difference. I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and hope it continues to bring comfort to the queer community at Doane,” Jolkowski said.
Jolkowski appreciates that this scholarship levels the playing field for students and ultimately works to encourage more LGBTQ students to pursue college. Receiving this scholarship allows Jolkowski to stay in school and provide help and guidance to the students who might be the most vulnerable.
“Because of the persistent discrimination of queer people, queer folk have a lesser likelihood of going to college or complete college for any number of reasons from social economic status reasons to not feeling safe enough to go due to lack of resources available to them. This program helps where they can to level the playing ground to help pay and also help empower queer students to create a safe space at their school themselves,” Jolkowski said.
