Contact: Brent Minor
(703) 861-8135

LGBTQ SPORTS ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOCAL LGBTQ STUDENT-ATHLETES

WASHINGTON, DC, May 11, 2021 — Team DC, the Association of LGBTQ (lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) sports clubs in the greater Washington region, announced that
nine individuals were named the recipients of the 2021 Team DC College Scholarship Program.

“We are pleased to award nine $2,000 scholarships to a truly impressive group of students. Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic during the past year, each of these students have demonstrated impressive leadership in the classroom and on the athletic field. We could not be prouder to recognize their achievements.” said Rene Tiongquico, Chair of the Team DC College Scholarship Committee.

Team DC College Scholarships are given annually to openly LGBTQ student-athletes from the greater Washington, DC region. Scholarship Co-Chair Charles Roth said, “Since the Scholarship Program was created in 2008, our goal has been not only to support openly out student-athletes, but to educate and foster discussions with coaches, educators, and other school administrators about the challenges facing LGBTQ athletes.”

This year’s Scholarship recipients (with their high school and college choice) are:

• Dustin Connors, Independence High School (VA), Northern Virginia Community College
• A.D.*, (VA), University of Virginia
• K.G.*, (VA), Duke University
• Sarah Jones, James Madison High School (VA), Willamette University
• Alice “Otter” Kammer, Washington-Liberty High School (VA), George Mason University
• Anna Kolb, Thomas A. Edison High School (VA), Brandeis University
• Naomi Mansour, Washington-Liberty High School (VA), Muhlenberg College
• Hailey Nguyen, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA), University of California – Berkeley
• Ajania Thaxton, Washington Latin Public Charter School (DC), Loyola University

* Recipient wishes to remain anonymous.

Team DC Board President Les Johnson added, “Despite the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which required a postponement of the annual Night of Champions Awards Dinner when the scholarships are presented, we felt it was important to maintain our commitment to help these young people as they begin their college careers. We are proud to support efforts like the Team DC College Scholarship program that make sports a safer and more welcoming place for all competitors.”

Scholarship Chair Rene Tiongquico added, “We are also pleased to continue to award the Horizon Award which will be given annually to an educator or coach who has demonstrated support for the LGBTQ student-athlete. This comes with a $500 cash prize and will be presented to Ava Benach, a long-time coach and transgender advocate.”

This year’s Scholarships and the Horizon Award will be presented in July at a date and time to be named later based on the ongoing pandemic restrictions.

Team DC has now awarded 82 scholarships over the past twelve years totaling $112,000. Applications for the 2022 Scholarship Program will open on September 15, 2021.

More about Team DC, including information about how to apply for a scholarship, can be found at www.teamdc.org.

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Team DC is a 501c3 non-profit organization that serves as the association for the Washington metropolitan area’s LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) sport clubs. Their mission is to make sports a more welcoming and safer environment for LGBT participants through college scholarships and other activities that educate the community about the value of participation in sports for good mental and physical health. To learn more, go to www.teamdc.org.