Cotton-Metzger Scholarships Awarded to Gay and Lesbian SDSU Students
CONTACT: Timothy McKernan, (619) 594-5204, mckernan@mail.sdsu.edu
SAN DIEGO, Monday, January 31, 2000-Three San Diego State University students have been selected as recipients of the 2000 Cotton-Metzger Scholarships. The awards, valued at $1,000 each, subsidize the education of gay or lesbian students who "have made a contribution to the society he or she is a part of and enhanced the greater society's perception of gay and lesbian people."
Charles H. Cotton and Henry C. Metzger of Rancho Bernardo, partners for 42 years, created the scholarships to help reduce the homophobic climate they had encountered when they began their relationship.
"It was much more pronounced then," Cotton said, "but we still have a long way to go. This is a way we can help our fellow brothers and sisters, and give back to our community as well. We wish we could give the award to everyone who applied.There are some wonderful people doing some wonderful things in San Diego."
The list of recipients includes:
Douglas Aucion, a graduate student working on his Master's degree in social work. Aucion recently returned to school after having taken time off to help put his partner through graduate school and is focusing his education on substance abuse among HIV-positive men.
Dawn L. Comeau, a graduate student in the Department of Women's Studies. Comeau is writing her Master's thesis on lesbian couples who choose to have children via artificial insemination and has done research on homophobia in the healthcare community.
Ryan Weible, a junior majoring in theater arts. Weible has been directing professionally since high school and is pursuing a career in theater to help audiences better understand and appreciate the gay and lesbian community, as well as the experience of living with HIV and AIDS.
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, master's degrees in 58 areas and doctorates in 11. Stephen L. Weber is the University's president.
###
