LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship

Donate to the LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship Fund

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer+ Staff & Faculty Association (LGBTQ+ SFA) holds core values of community. Thus, our scholarship seeks to support students who embody authenticity and plan to give back to the LGBTQ+ community after graduation. This is a university-wide scholarship.

We hope to grow our LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship each year, with the intention of offering larger awards to more students. If you would like to support our goal, please donate to our LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship Fund by clicking on the button below!

Donate to the LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship Fund

2026-2027 LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship Recipients

Bandana Panta (she/her) - Nursing, B.S. Student

My name is Bandana Panta (she/her), and I am an international student from Nepal pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at California State University, East Bay. My passion for nursing comes from personal experiences as a caregiver for family members and from witnessing healthcare disparities in my community, particularly those affecting women and underserved populations.

Alongside my studies, I worked as an Activity Assistant in a rehabilitation center, where I supported patients recovering from illness, injury, and surgery. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and advocating for individuals during vulnerable moments in their lives.

After completing my nursing degree, I hope to return to Nepal and contribute to improving healthcare access, with a focus on women's health, rehabilitation services, and community education.

Receiving the LGBTQ+ SFA Scholarship is both an honor and a tremendous source of support. This award will help ease the financial challenges of pursuing my education as an international student, allowing me to remain focused on my studies, clinical training, and future goals. I am deeply grateful to the Staff and Faculty Association for their support and belief in my potential.

Kayla Knowles (she/her) - Educational Technology, M.S. Student

Kayla Knowles (she/her) is a Queer educator and aerial performer who was raised in The Bay Area. She has been a high school teacher for the last ten years and prides herself on the strides she has made in those years. She served as the Director of Production and Design at COCOSPA before it's closure, worked at a continuation school with at-risk and previous incarcerated youth, and now teaches High School English. Her vision for education has always been to serve as an example and a voice for the unserved and under-represented populations within a system that has never served them. As an educator she has always been loud and proud about who she was, thinking that if even one student felt seen and could use their voice--it would all be worth it. She has always pushed the boundaries of her classroom, changing her curriculum to add in queer and BIPOC artists/authors when previously there were none. Kayla earned her Single-Subject teaching credential at Cal State East Bay in Spring of 2026 and she will be continuing on into the Educational Technical program for her Masters of Science this year. She is very thankful for this award and hopes that it will support her continued work as an educator.