Jul 04, 2008  |  By: AMY CAVANAUGH  | COMMENTS     

able to become or continue to be a Point Scholar.”

POINT FOUNDATION SCHOLARS are supported with more than just money. One of the organization’s annual events is the summer leadership conference, which brings together alumni, scholars and notable speakers, who in the past have included lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), longtime activist David Mixner and former GLAAD executive director Joan Garry.

“We cover a variety of topics, including LGBT history, media training, budgeting, the community service project and mentoring,” Valencia says. “It’s an opportunity to have face-to-face training on leadership.”

The mentoring program, which pairs students with mentors who are professionals in each scholar’s respective field of study or who live in the same geographic area, is an important part of the Point scholarship program.

Smith looks forward to her relationship with her mentor, noting that, “right now I don’t know many gay adults, so I think my mentor will be someone I can talk to about that. It’s important to have an older role model.”

David Howard, 33, is an attorney in Atlanta who has been working as a mentor since 2006. He first heard about the Point Foundation in mid-2005 and became a mentor one year later.

“I looked on their web site and gave them money, but after clicking around, I saw that they were seeking mentors, so I applied,” Howard says.

Howard’s mentee, Scott McKee, is studying chemical engineering.

“It’s not exactly in line career-wise with an attorney,” says Howard. “[Being a mentor] is more about having someone who can be there for the mentee, who can offer advice, as opposed to just necessarily providing referrals for career counseling.

“We have the advantage of being in the same city so we’re in touch every other week,” says Howard of his relationship with McKee. “We stay in touch by e-mail, meet once a month in person. He comes to my house for dinner with my partner and I, or we go out to dinner, or meet up for lunch.”

Though the benefits of mentorship for the scholars are apparent, Howard says that the experience of being a mentor is rewarding.

“For me, it’s the satisfaction of knowing that someone who might not have someone looking out for him has someone,” he says. “I’m not a parent figure for him, but I went to school away from home like Scott did, and it would have been nice to have someone who understood what I was going through, not just in terms of college classes or career, but LGBT issues. I know what he’s going through and can give advice on relationship issues and have years of experience.”

Mentorship and the foundation’s other programs are filling an important gap for gay and transgender students, Valencia says.

“The dropout rate [of gay and transgender students] is<