DeKALB | The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center is offering its first-ever scholarship for NIU students.

The Joseph Harry Endowed Scholarship will be given to one or two students for a year and will be awarded based on a student’s participation in LGBT organizations or activities, academic performance and financial need, said Margie Cook, director of the LGBT Resource Center.

“It was established as a bequest by a retired sociology professor who was a pioneer in doing gay studies research,” she said. “He created the scholarship for students who have been active in LGBT organizations and activities.”

A monetary value for the scholarship has not yet been established, but it will pay a significant portion of a student’s tuition, Cook said.

The deadline for the scholarship is Thursday, Feb. 1 by 4:30 p.m. The scholarship committee will choose one or two students to receive the scholarship.

The application and selection process will be completely confidential and anyone can apply, regardless of their sexual orientation, Cook said.

“If students are concerned, the entire process is confidential,” Cook said. “If someone were to receive the scholarship, LGBT would not be put on the paperwork,” Cook said.

It will be an annual scholarship, though much of the process still needs to be worked out since it is the first time the LGBT Resource Center has offered a scholarship, Cook said. The student or students receiving the scholarship will have the opportunity to renew it for a second year, as well.

Cook hopes the new scholarship will help increase the amount of student involvement with the LGBT organizations and activities.

“This is a tremendous opportunity, because not very many schools have a scholarship for this area,” Cook said.