Scholarship & Internship
program
The Charlotte Pride Scholarship & Internship Program, generously supported by the Principal® Foundation, aims to improve economic mobility for LGBTQ+ and ally college students from the Charlotte metro area by funding college scholarships and a summer internship opportunity.
We’re incredibly proud of the young leaders who received scholarships for the 2025-2026 school year through our annual scholarship and summer internship program, made possible by support from the Principal® Foundation and we are now pleased to open applications for the 2026-2027 school year.
A special thank you to the Principal® Foundation for their continued support!
- Proud To Be -
Scholarship & Internship
program Details & Requirements
Important Note To Applicants:
Applicants may apply for an internship OR scholarship, but not both. We suggest that you compile all the information you will need to complete the application, including: basic demographic data (name, address, age, etc.), high school/college GPA, transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable), work history, community involvements, extracurricular activities (you may submit a resume), and one personal statement of 500-800 words.
Applicants must:
- Be an undergraduate or rising undergraduate student to be eligible for the scholarship program
- Be an undergraduate, rising undergraduate, OR graduate student to be eligible for the internship program
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or above on an unweighted 4.0 scale
- Be an LGBTQ+ or ally student who has demonstrated service to the LGBTQ+ community or strong desire to serve the LGBTQ+ community
- Have a demonstrated, significant unmet financial need
- Be enrolled or intending to enroll at an accredited two or four-year college for the fall term of the 2026-2027 academic year
- Note that preference will be given full-time students OR part-time students who are in their junior or senior years of college.
- Be attending college in North or South Carolina. Note that preference will be given to students attending college in North or South Carolina, but all applicants will be considered.
- Be from one of the following Charlotte Metro area counties: Mecklenburg, York, Union, Gaston, Cabarrus, Iredell, Rowan, Cleveland, Lancaster, Lincoln, Stanly, Chester, Catawba, Chesterfield, Alexander, or Anson.
Scholarship Details
The Charlotte Pride Scholarship Program, Generously Supported by the Principal® Foundation, is open only to undergraduate and rising undergraduate students.
While we consider your GPA, we place greater emphasis on your passion for education and demonstrated service to the LGBTQ+ community or a desire to serve the LGBTQ+ community.
Multiple applicants will be selected; amounts for each winner determined by the selection committee.
The Charlotte Pride Scholarship Program, Generously Supported by the Principal® Foundation, provides up to $10,000 and may be used to cover your tuition, fees, on-campus housing, or books at an accredited non-profit academic institution in the 2026-2027 academic year.
The scholarship levels are as follows:
- One (1) Champion of Pride Scholarship ($10,000 award)
- One (1) Legacy Scholarship ($5,000 award)
- Two (2) Empowerment Scholarships ($2,500 award)
- One (1) Valdez Visibility Scholarship ($2,500 award) NEW
- Two (2) Leadership Scholarships ($1,250 award)
- Five (5) Visionary Scholarships ($1,000 award)
Applicants may only apply once.
The Application Committee will determine scholarship awards based on information provided in the application.
Internship Details & Requirements
The Charlotte Pride Internship Program, Generously Supported by the Principal® Foundation, is open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Charlotte Pride Internship Program, Generously Supported by Principal® Foundation, provides a $5,000 summer stipend.
Students with majors/interests in areas such as communications, journalism, graphic design, social media, English, creative writing, nonprofit management, gender studies, hospitality, art, digital media, and event planning are strongly encouraged to apply.
The internship will be eight weeks for 40 hours each week over Summer 2026, with the intern reporting for their first day on Monday, June 8th.
Tasks will include shadowing and assisting Charlotte Pride staff in their daily functions, assisting with volunteer events and meetings, and attending Charlotte Pride community events. Interns may also work with Charlotte Pride staff to identify a project to work on throughout the eight-week internship.
Internship applicants must submit a 500-800 word personal statement in their application.
Applicants will be asked to participate in an interview with Charlotte Pride staff and submit a portfolio of work samples.
Only one applicant will be selected.
Completing the application
All applications are due on April 19, 2026, by 11:59pm Eastern; no late applications will be accepted.
Applicants or potential applicants may email questions to: scholarship@charlottepride.org
You must submit your application online. You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received.
We suggest that you compile all the information you will need to complete the application, including: basic demographic data, high school and/or college GPA, transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable), work history, community involvements, extracurricular activities (you may submit a resume), and one personal statement of 500-800 words.
Timeline:
- Application due date: April 19, 2026, 11:59pm Eastern
- Award notification date: May 18, 2026
- Note that applicants will be notified via email.
Intern Responsibilities
The intern will assist staff as they complete day-to-day tasks and meetings, attend all volunteer functions (as available), and table as needed. They may be guided to find a major project that they connect with. This could potentially include:
- Learning how to create and run a social media marketing campaign
- Assisting with the creation of the annual Charlotte Pride Magazine
- Assisting in the planning and implementation of Charlotte Pride programs
- Participating in and supporting community events of which Charlotte Pride is a part
- Supporting development work and fundraising activities, such as grant research, proposal writing, and donor outreach
- Assisting in social media and website management
- Providing support for other ongoing projects and initiatives
Congratulations to
our 2025 scholars!
$10,000
$5,000
$2,500
$2,500
$1,250
$1,250
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000
Stipend + $2,500
$1,000
$1,000
Valdez Visibility Scholarship
As of February 28th, 2026, Charlotte Pride has announced the naming of one $2,500 Scholarship as the Valdez Visibility Scholarship. This is named in recognition for the 10+ years of service for past President of the Board, long time volunteer, and Champions of Pride Stonewall Award recipient Daniel Valdez.
View the proclamation here: Valdez Visibility Scholarship Proclamation
Past Scholarship
& Internship
Recipients
$10,000 Champion of Pride Scholarship: Adam Rodriguez (He/him)
$5,000 Legacy Scholarship: Victoria Smith (She/they)
$2,500 Empowerment Scholarship: Sophia Mcgrew (She/her)
$2,500 Empowerment Scholarship: Emma Collard (She/her)
$1,250 Leadership Scholarship: Noah Grooms (He/him)
$1,250 Leadership Scholarship: Jaelin Grant (He/him)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Mallory Mason (They/them)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Atlas Hines (They/them)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Ella Nesbitt (She/her)
+ 2 Visionary Scholarship winners that prefer to remain anonymous.
Charlotte Pride Summer Intern & $2,500 Scholarship: Kennedy Walker (He/him)
$10,000 Champion of Pride Scholarship: Chloe Ripoli (they/them)
$5,000 Legacy Scholarship: Reuben Evans (he/him)
$2,500 Empowerment Scholarship: Adam Bell (he/him)
$2,500 Empowerment Scholarship: Kaylyn Bauder (she/they)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Maddy Reilly (she/her)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Arianna Kennedy (she/her)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Gabby Laatz (she/her)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Kyana Peoples (she/her)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Connie Pearson (she/her)
CLT Pride Summer Intern & $2,500 Scholarship*: Abby Beaver (she/her)
$10,000 Champion of Pride Scholarship: Monisha Pirela (she/her)
$5,000 Legacy Scholarship: Kennedy Brooks (she/they)
$2,500 Empowerment Scholarship: Julia Bright (she/her)
$2,500 Empowerment Scholarship: Kadence Cole (she/her)
$1,250 Leadership Scholarship: Madison Todd (she/they)
$1,250 Leadership Scholarship: Dakota Kramer (he/him)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Jada Carlos (she/her)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Abigail Morman (she/they)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Jea’von Crockett (he/him)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Marissa Parker (she/her)
$1,000 Visionary Scholarship: Ken Sings (he/him)
CLT Pride Summer Intern & $2,500 Scholarship*: Sarah T. Moore (she/her)
2022
Gregory Burton (he/him)
George Thomas (he/him)
August Warren (he/him)
Three additional Charlotte Pride Scholars were awarded this year. They have chosen to remain anonymous. Charlotte Pride respects the coming out journeys and private stories of all our scholars.