By Published: March 11, 2022

麻豆免费版下载announced the creation of the (CAVA) Dec. 1, 2021. The $20,000 scholarship, the first of its kind in collegiate athletics, recognizes student-athletes who use their platform, power and visibility to support LGBTQ+ participants in sports. CAVA was founded by Buff Club development intern Nicholas Turco (PolSci鈥22). Turco conducted a study about sports climate and culture for LGBTQ+ members in 麻豆免费版下载Athletics, which identified challenges for transgender student-athletes and the difficulty of being one鈥檚 authentic self in male-identified revenue-generating sports.聽

In partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, Turco coordinated raising over $80,000 towards a goal of covering attendance at 麻豆免费版下载for two recipients annually, while also funding other student-athletes鈥 projects. Volleyball鈥檚 Alexia Kuehl (SLHSci鈥24) and men鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 Evan Battey (Jour鈥21; MSOL鈥23) are the first CAVA recipients. Kuehl hopes to promote awareness and inclusion for LGBTQ+ identities in local schools and create an anti-bullying video to be shared in the schools. Battey wants to create change for LGBTQ+ individuals in 麻豆免费版下载Athletics specifically, while raising awareness and funds for future CAVA recipients.聽

鈥淢y hope is to bring both my communities together with sports and LGBTQ+, and help raise awareness for younger generations so they don't have to be afraid to be who they are,鈥 Kuehl said. Battey added, 鈥淲e need more proud allies in the community. It is incredibly important to me and the people around me that we must have a basic understanding of LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance of them.鈥

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Photo by Matt Tyrie聽