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CU announced the creation of the (CAVA) Dec. 1, 2021. The $20,000 scholarship, the first of its kind in collegiate athletics, recognizes student-athletes who use their platform, power and visibility to support LGBTQ+ participants in sports. CAVA was founded by Buff Club development intern Nicholas Turco (PolSci鈥�22). Turco conducted a study about sports climate and culture for LGBTQ+ members in CU Athletics, which identified challenges for transgender student-athletes and the difficulty of being one鈥檚 authentic self in male-identified revenue-generating sports.聽

In partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, Turco coordinated raising over $80,000 towards a goal of covering attendance at CU for two recipients annually, while also funding other student-athletes鈥� projects. Volleyball鈥檚 Alexia Kuehl (SLHSci鈥�24) and men鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 Evan Battey (Jour鈥�21; MSOL鈥�23) are the first CAVA recipients. Kuehl hopes to promote awareness and inclusion for LGBTQ+ identities in local schools and create an anti-bullying video to be shared in the schools. Battey wants to create change for LGBTQ+ individuals in CU Athletics specifically, while raising awareness and funds for future CAVA recipients.聽

鈥淢y hope is to bring both my communities together with sports and LGBTQ+, and help raise awareness for younger generations so they don't have to be afraid to be who they are,鈥� Kuehl said. Battey added, 鈥淲e need more proud allies in the community. It is incredibly important to me and the people around me that we must have a basic understanding of LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance of them.鈥�

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Photo by Matt Tyrie聽