The Jonathan Lax Scholarship Fund for Gay Men was established in 1994 by the late entrepreneur and inventor Jonathan R. Lax for the purpose of encouraging gay men to obtain additional education; to aspire to positions in which they contribute to society; to be out about their sexual orientation; and to act as role models for other gay men with similar potential.
Tuition scholarships are awarded in amounts of $5,000 to $10,000 to gay men who live in the five-county Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties) and Camden County, who are matriculated in a degree program at an accredited college, graduate, or professional school based in the United States, or to men attending such schools within the Philadelphia region. For more questions, please contact lax@breadrosesfund.org.
Apply for the Jonathan Lax Scholarship for Gay Men
The deadline to apply for the Jonathan Lax Scholarship has passed.
Information Session
We hosted a virtual information session September 22 at 5:30 p.m. (EST) to support people working on applications.
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2022 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Daniel Bracy is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a degree in public health. Daniel’s professional goal is to be involved in health equity research and implementation, especially within the LGBTQ+ and African American communities.
Dennis Dumpson is a graduate student at the University of San Diego, where he is pursuing a PhD in education for social justice. He’s a published author with a focus on the Black student experience between high school and college. Professionally he is an anti-bias and racial equity consultant.
Rafael Febo is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a degree in applied sciences in literature culture and tradition. Raphael is a community leader who has worked at Youth United for Change, the Norris Square Neighborhood Project, the office of councilmember Mario Quiñones Sanchez, and the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs.
João Nery Fiocchi Rodrigues is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a PhD in sociology. He plans to build on his experience with the law and social science as a legal practitioner and scholar of human rights issues.
Vincent Pepe is a graduate student at Thomas Jefferson University, pursuing a doctorate of medicine and masters in public health. His focus is on health disparities that disproportionately affect gender and sexual minorities, especially those who are transgender/gender non-conforming, queer people of color, and elderly LGBTQ+ people.
Carper Wiggins is an undergraduate student at Muhlenberg College, where he is planning to pursue a degree in business administration. Carper was the president of the Council Rock South High School’s gender & sexuality alliance where he organized and promoted club events to raise awareness and support the school’s LGTBQ+ community.
2021 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Hoa Vo is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a degree in public health. An international student from Vietnam, Hoa balances full-time course work with student worker positions as a peer tutor and administrative assistant. He is very involved in his school’s Queer Student Union and is passionate about creating an open and inclusive campus environment for all students.
Andreas Copes is a student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism. He helped create the first LGBTQ+ news show for Temple University students in the hopes of better representing the experiences of LGBTQ+ people on campus and shining a spotlight on their “beautiful queer family.”
Cory Seals is an undergraduate student at the University of the Arts, where he is pursuing a degree in vocal performance. He has engaged in advocacy and cultural enrichment programs for Black youth, peer mentorship, community service, and activism. Throughout his life, he has seen art and activism mix to uplift others and combat oppression. He hopes to become a curator of Black, queer art spaces.
Corey Dennison is a graduate of West Chester State University, where he pursued a BA in Women and Gender Studies with minors in Anthropology, Geography, and African American Literature. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in healthcare ethics from Duquesne University. In addition to his course work, Corey is involved in radical organizing and activism around labor, poverty, and other issues.
2020 Jonathan Lax Scholars
Matt Falsetta is a graduate student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a masters in Secondary Education – K-12 World Languages. While attending graduate school, he works as a Spanish Teacher at Mayfair School in Philadelphia where he is honored to represent the LGBTQ community in a K-12 urban setting.
Daniel Mack is a graduate student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he is pursuing a masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Throughout his life he has led student organizations that support the LGBTQIA community, and he now mentors Philadelphia youth.
Bryce Nguyen is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing a BA in Economics. After experiencing first-hand the vigil after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in his hometown of Orlando, FL on the night before the anniversary of his coming out, Bryce was inspired to dive into LGBT life on campus, working with the on-campus LGBT community as well as campus administrators to make a safer space and break down stigmas.
Maddox O’Rourke is graduating from an international high school in Japan, after which he hopes to study international relations or psychology in college. As a queer and transgender man, Maddox has worked within his school’s Rainbow Alliance to restructure club leadership and open campus-wide discussions with each dormitory regarding sexuality and gender. He has also worked to found an organization called Project Koe which works to give voice to the LGBTQ+ community in Karuizawa emphasizing marriage equality and bullying prevention.
Julian Roberson is a graduate student in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he is pursuing a masters in Business Administration. After growing up in a hyper-masculine family, Julian first got involved in an LGBTQ affinity group at his workplace, where he arranged sponsorship for DC Black Pride. He is now working in his university’s LGBTQ affinity group to build workshops and provide resources for marginalized communities that are working to penetrate homogenous organizations.