TEAM DC TO HONOR MAYOR BOWSER, LOCAL LGBT LEADERS

Scholarships To Be Awarded To DC-Area High School Athletes

WASHINGTON, DC – Team DC, the association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sports clubs in the greater Washington region, announced that six individuals were named the recipients of the 2018 Team DC College Scholarship Program. The organization also announced District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser will be given a special Champions Award in recognition of her ongoing support of the LGBT community including the recent Bid to host Gay Games XI.

“Mayor Bowser was an exemplary leader and advocate for DC in our recent bid to host the Gay Games in 2022. While ultimately our bid was unsuccessful, the full support of the Mayor throughout the process was an important factor in reaching the finals. In addition to the bid, Mayor Bowser has made sure that the DC is welcoming and inviting for our vibrant and diverse LGBT sports community,” said Brent Minor, Executive Director of Team DC.

Team DC College Scholarships are given annually to openly LGBT student-athletes from the greater Washington, DC region. “Since the Scholarship Program was created in 2008, our goal has been not only to support openly out student-athletes, but to also educate and foster discussions with coaches and other school administrators about the challenges facing LGBT athletes, I am always impressed by the quality of applicants and this year is no exception. We have tremendous diversity from throughout the region reflected in this year’s group including a record number of women recipients as well as a student who is transgender,” said Dan Schaefer, Chair of the Team DC College Scholarship Committee.

This year’s Scholarship recipients (with their high school and where they will be attending college) include:

• Reeves Gift, Chesapeake Math & IT Academy, Laurel, MD / Prince Georges Community College (MD)
• Nakiyea Harris, Dunbar High School, Washington, DC / undecided
• Caroline Hill, T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria, VA / Virginia Commonwealth University (VA)
• Claire Hutcheson, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA / undecided
• Doratea Delback Macri, School Without Walls, Washington, DC / University of California-Berkeley (CA)
• Thea Shaw, Dunbar High School, Washington, DC / Washington Adventist University (MD)

Along with the Mayor’s Award, and the scholarship presentations, Team DC will also recognize several local LGBT sports community leaders. Those awardees include:

• Sharifa Love of the Washington Furies Women’s Rugby Team
• Jesse Anderson of the DC Pride Gay Volleyball League
• Bud Rorison of the Capital Tennis Association
• Les Johnson of the Capital Area Rainbowlers Association
• Balance Gym for support of the local sports community

Team DC President Randy Meck added, “The Team DC College Scholarship program is a major part of our daily mission. That work also helps to make sports a safer and more welcoming environment for all competitors, here in the DC area, at high schools and colleges, and across the country.”

This year’s Scholarships will be awarded at the annual “Night of Champions Awards Dinner” on April 14, 2018. Special guests include Virginia Tech Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bill Roth and Mayor Bowser who will be on hand to accept her Champions Award for Community Support.

Team DC has now awarded 59 scholarships over the past ten years totaling $68,000. Applications for the 2019 Scholarship Program will open on September 1, 2018.

More about Team DC, including information about how to apply for a scholarship, and how to purchase tickets to our April 14 gala, can be found at www.teamdc.org.

Team DC is a 501c3 non-profit organization that serves as the association for the Washington metropolitan area’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) sport clubs. Their mission is to make sports a more welcoming and safe 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.