Two College of Public Health students have been recently awarded with scholarships from the Gay Community Endowment Fund (GCEF) of the Akron Community Fundation. Congratulations Rachel LaFlame and Shawn Schreckengost Jr.!
LaFlame is a graduate student pursuing an MPH. She previously served as a graduate assistant at the LGBTQ+ Center at Kent State, where she assisted in philanthropic efforts, managed marketing initiatives, oversaw the center’s interns, and presented workshops to the campus community. She now works as a healthcare administrator at a local hospital. After graduating in spring of 2023, LaFlame plans to work in health policy to fight against anti-LGBTQ+ health legislation.
Schreckengost is a senior at KSU, where he studies public health and economics. This is the third year he has received a scholarship from the GCEF Scholarship Fund. Schreckengost recently worked on the Greater Akron LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment and also volunteers for the Akron Pride Festival. During the summer of 2022, Schreckengost participated in Carnegie Mellon’s Public Policy and International Affairs Institute, where he took courses on various policy issues and worked on evidence-based solutions. As the president of the Public Health Student Alliance, Schreckengost has refined his leadership skills and attended workshops on white allyship and LGBTQ+ advocacy.
To learn more about the Gay Community Endowment Fund: