Ella J. Baker and Marsha P. Johnson Scholarships

Ella Baker Anti-Racism and Collective Liberation Award

The Ella Baker Anti-Racism and Collective Liberation Award is an annual scholarship awarded to UAA students who are committed to the liberation of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) (including but not limited to Black, African American, Indigenous, Alaska Native, Native American, Hispanic and Latine/x/a/o, Asian, Pacific Islander, multiracial or mixed heritage), and/or the liberation of communities that have experienced oppression due to their religious beliefs or due to the absence thereof. Through dedicated anti-racism and anti-oppression efforts, this individual works to build a more equitable and inclusive future for marginalized communities. They actively work toward social and racial justice on campus and/or in the community. We welcome applications from students who identify as BIPOC as well as from allies of the BIPOC community regardless of race, color, national origin or citizenship; and from students who are adherents of a mainstream religion, a minoritized religion, or no religion. Please nominate yourself or a student you know who embodies the legacy of Ella Baker.

The Legacy of Ella J. Baker

Ella J. Baker (1903-1986) is known as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." She spent the majority of her life working toward liberation for the Black community and raising the political consciousness of Americans. As a civil rights leader, Baker played a major role in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Baker spent the 1940s traveling through small towns and convincing Black citizens they were deserving of basic human rights. She worked toward peaceful mobilization and nonviolent protest. She helped local leaders build campaigns against lynching, for job training, and for equal pay for Black teachers. Baker inspired and recruited civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks. Baker's legacy lives on: she co-founded an organization that raised money to fight Jim Crow Laws, helped organize the 1961 Freedom Rides, and aided in registering Black voters. We honor Ella J. Baker and her impactful legacy by awarding UAA students who are committed to building positive change, authentic solidarity, and collective liberation among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and those who practice minoritized religions.

Marsha P. Johnson Scholarship for LGBTQIA2S+ Community Advocacy + Liberation

The Marsha P Johnson Scholarship for LGBTQIA2S+ Community Advocacy + Liberation is an annual scholarship awarded to to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, Two-spirit and plus students, or to children of LGBTQIA2S+ persons, or to friends and allies of the LGBTQIA2S+ community regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information, who have affected it the LGBTQIA2S+ community positively.

Legacy of Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson was born August 24th, 1945 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She was a Black Trans Woman, a groundbreaking intersectional activist, and an accomplished drag queen/performance artist. Marsha's life of advocacy and justice is prolific. She was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front, a member of the Drag Queen Caucus and was involved with AIDS activists groups such as ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power). She and fellow activist Sylvia Rivera cofounded the Street Transvestite Activist Revolutionaries (STAR) to protect trans people living on the street. Marsha played a pivotal role in the Stonewall Uprising, a pushback on police brutality and widespread discrimination. On the first anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, June 28, 1970, Marsha marched in the first Gay Pride Rally, named the Christopher Street Liberation day. In the LGBTQIA2S+ community she was known as Saint Marsha. Described as generous, warmhearted, positive and stylish. She was also known as the "Mayor of Christopher Street." in Greenwich Village in New York, the birthplace of the modern American LGBTQIA2S+ movement. In 1992 Marsha P. Johnson's important and beautiful life was cut tragically short at the age of 46. Her life is an incredible testament to bravery, resilience and commitment to social justice.

Requirements and Application

Requirements for both scholarships:

• Minimum GPA of 2.0.
• Students must be admitted into a degree/certificate program, including OECs.
• Students must be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
• Students must be actively enrolled in the following spring or summer semester.
• Additional GPA standard:
  • Departmental approvals = 2.5
  • Colleges/Academic Approvals = 2.8
  • Graduate-level Approvals = 3.0
• Must attend University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), Anchorage Campus