Paula McCusker Wins National Youth Courage Award

Tue, 04 May 2010 12:37:00 -0400
social-justice

Paula McCusker has been named a winner of the 2010 Colin Higgins Foundation Youth Courage Award, a national award honoring young people who have overcome significant obstacles to become "unsung heroes in the struggle for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality."

Paula attended UMBC from 2007-2009, and is on leave this semester working as an intern with Equality Maryland. While at UMBC Paula served with the Freedom Alliance and SGA, and helped the Office of Student Life to develop its Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Awareness Training program. She also was an outspoken advocate on issues ranging from UMBC's decision to apply for status as an ROTC host site to the expansion of gender-neutral housing options for students. At last year's UMBC Black and Gold leadership awards she was honored as Emerging Leader of the Year.

As a winner of the Colin Higgins Foundation Youth Courage Award, Paula will receive a $10,000 prize and the opportunity to connect with national networks of activists working for social justice. Congratulations, Paula!