Our Crowdfunding Groups
In 2005, a group of dedicated donors, led by Tony Era '93 and Kevin Duhrkopf, and including John Szetela and Brian Wiatrek '95, joined forces with a desire to make a difference for students from the LGBTQIA+ community at The University of Texas at San Antonio. The resulting fund—the GLBTQ of UTSA Endowment Scholarship—has now supported 30 students in their educational endeavors, awarding more than $54,000 in scholarships. It is a lasting legacy that will continue to support LGBTQIA+ students for generations.
Continued support for the endowment will provide additional or increased scholarship awards for students who are leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community on campus. The scholarship provides vital support to students who have demonstrated leadership and courage, despite possibly not finding acceptance in their families or home communities. Scholarship recipients have shared that this support helps them focus on preparing for meaningful careers because they know there are people who care about their success.
"Getting an education at a university as diverse and open as UTSA helped me as a gay man to focus on the skills I bring to the table," said Brian Wiatrek. "It is very important to me to contribute to the scholarship so that others can benefit just as I do."