Team DC College Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Team DC
Scholarship Overview
Description: Team DC Student-Athlete Scholarships recognize LGBTQIA+ student-athletes who contribute positively to their sport and help strengthen perceptions of the LGBTQIA+ community through participation and leadership. Recipients demonstrate academic and athletic excellence. They also show promise as role models within the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Recognizes LGBTQIA+ student-athletes for their contributions to sports and community leadership.
- Values academic achievement, athletic excellence, and role-model potential.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility: Applicants must meet all listed requirements to be considered. They must live in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, self-identify as LGBTQIA+, and be a current high school senior or enrolled in a post-secondary program. Applicants must also participate actively in athletics and intend to enroll full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited two- or four-year college or university.
Residency: Applicants must reside in one of the following areas:
- Arlington County, City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, or Prince William County, Virginia
- Calvert County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, St. Mary’s County, Charles County, or Anne Arundel County, Maryland
- The District of Columbia
Identity and privacy: Applicants must self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, or otherwise as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Applicants are not required to be publicly out; self-identification is required for consideration, and Team DC respects applicant privacy.
Athletic participation: Applicants must participate in interscholastic or competitive athletics, including club, recreational, or community leagues. Eligible sports include, but are not limited to:
- Baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, crew, cross country, dance, fencing, figure skating, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, marching band, rugby, sailing, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling
- Applicants in other sports may contact [email protected] to ask whether their participation may be considered.
Conflict of interest: Applicants may not be related to or be the domestic partner of a member of the Team DC Scholarship Committee, Executive Committee, or staff.
- Applicants must meet the residency, identity, education, athletic participation, and college-enrollment requirements.
- Self-identification is required, but public disclosure is not.
Application Requirements
Application packet: Applicants must submit a completed application form, a personal essay, two letters of recommendation, and an official transcript. The essay may be up to 1,500 words and should address one or more of the provided prompts. A FAFSA Student Aid Report is optional, and financial need may be considered when applicants are equally qualified.
- Application form
- Personal essay: Maximum 1,500 words. The essay may address any or all of these prompts:
- How has the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ athletes in school sports played an essential role in your life?
- How has your LGBTQIA+ identity affected your participation in athletics, school life, and life outside school?
- As an athlete and member of the LGBTQIA+ community, what experiences or qualifications do you have as a leader or ambassador for inclusion?
The essay may be uploaded with the application, emailed to [email protected], or mailed with the other materials. For submissions through Google Drive, grant file-sharing access to [email protected].
- Two letters of recommendation: Letters should be written by people familiar with the applicant’s character and qualifications, such as a coach, teacher, faculty member, or employer. Each letter must include the author’s relationship to the applicant and their email address and phone number. Recommenders must send letters directly to [email protected] from an institutional email account or mail them to the Team DC office in a sealed envelope. Letters submitted by applicants will not be accepted.
- Official transcript: A school administrator must send the transcript directly from their account to [email protected] or mail it to the Team DC office in a sealed envelope.
- Optional Student Aid Report: Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit a FAFSA Student Aid Report showing the Expected Family Contribution. This information may be included with the application, emailed, or mailed to Team DC.
- Submit all required materials; the Student Aid Report is optional.
- Recommendation letters and transcripts must be sent directly by the recommender or school administrator.
Timeline and Recognition
Application timeline: The application portal is currently open, and the application deadline is in February 2027. Scholarship recipients are expected to be notified in late February 2027. The source lists the Night of Champions Gala for April 2026; details are forthcoming.
- Application portal: Open now
- Application deadline: February 2027
- Recipient notification: Late February 2027
- Scholar recognition: Recipients will be celebrated at the Team DC Night of Champions Gala. Attendance is encouraged but not required; recipients and one guest may attend free of charge.
- Ambassador opportunities: Team DC Scholars will be invited to participate in major summer events, including Night OUT at the Washington Nationals, Washington Spirit, Washington Mystics, Washington Commanders, Washington Wizards, and DC United, as well as the Capital Pride Parade and other community celebrations.
- Applications are due in February 2027, with recipient notifications expected later that month.
- Recipients may attend the gala and participate in Team DC summer events.