The Louis Crompton Scholarship was awarded to Shea O’Brien, a junior psychology major and LGBTQ/Sexuality Studies minor who hopes to open her own counselling practice. O’Brien was commended for her active volunteerism at the Common Root Mutual Aid Center, facilitating peer-to-peer support groups and in coordinating the Fall for Pride event.

"Her personality is warm, inviting and displays an understanding of cooperation, but also a firm independence and leadership. These qualities make her a wonderful person with whom to work and I am honored to be able to share this facet of her life" said fellow Azraq Middle Eastern rhythms band member Shaina Allison.

In her application for the award, O’Brien recognized the LGBTQA community for providing her with a purpose. “I am passionate about supporting those who have been marginalized and misunderstood due to their identities. This drive is very much a part of my being and I could not imagine a different life purpose."

Now in its eighth year at UNL, Lavender Graduation began in 1995 at the University of Michigan as a program to recognize the challenges of being openly LGBTQA+ or openly connected to the LGBTQA+ community.

“Being part of, or connected to, the LGBTQA+ community can result in marginalization, stigma, bias, and there are many disproportionate impacts on LGBTQA+ people that result from uninformed and negative attitudes or beliefs about being LGBTQA+. The contributions and achievements of the LGBTQA+ community are often invisible because the orientation or gender identity/expression a person may have is not always known or acknowledged. Visibility is both rewarding and challenging, as we are sometimes seen as ‘the’ representative for an entire community that is comprised of a variety of identities and orientations,” said Pat Tetreault, director of the LGBTQA+ Resource Center.