Grand Valley student named Point Foundation Scholar

Grand Valley student Xinyi Ou is one of 29 students in the U.S. to receive a scholarship from Point Foundation, an organization that provides financial support and leadership training to students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Ou, a double major in history and sociology, joins fellow scholar students from universities across the country, such as Harvard, Columbia, Stanford and Dartmouth. She was one of more than 2,000 students who submitted an application to become a Point Foundation Scholar.

“Being named a Point Foundation Scholar is more than I could have ever hoped for,” said Ou, who moved to the U.S. from Beijing when she was 9 years old. “It means a lot because the Foundation stands for everything I support.”

Ou serves on the Honors-Niemeyer-Calder Community Council, Student Senate Diversity Affairs Committee, That Takes Ovaries! planning committee and Mid-East Honors Association and is a 2012 Summer Orientation assistant. She plans to receive her master’s degree and doctorate and pursue a career as a professor.