2006 POINT SCHOLARS

Sarah Rohwer

Binghamton University

Biological Sciences

Sarah was born and raised in the Hudson Valley community of Highland, New York where she attended a small, somewhat conservative high school. When she and a few other students tried to start a GSA in their sophomore year, they found themselves without support and backing. It took two years to become officially recognized as a school club. In their presentation to the school board their plight was finally recognized when one of the members said it was “…one of the best presentations I have ever seen in my time on the board.” The GSA is now very active in her high school and she serves as the vice-president. Sarah was in the National Honor Society, knitting club, multi-cultural club, and student council. She was also involved with a three year independent study class in science research, where she conducted a study in environmental science and presented it to the community. Sarah wrote many articles about LGBT issues for her school newspaper including a transgender glossary, and had an article called “Sticks and Stones” published in the regional magazine InsideOut. Sarah will be attending Binghamton University in New York in the fall where she will be pursuing her interests in genetics and LGBT rights.

In Sarah's own words: “It was a desperate lonely struggle to find myself at 15, and I could not have made it through without the support I received. I hope to be there for others and promote those caring organizations that once helped me. I am committed to the idea that youth should not be at a disadvantage due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. We cannot allow hatred, bias and intolerance to destroy young people’s sense of self and futures.”