The Gay-Straight Alliance has reason to celebrate, as an alumni recently established an annual leadership scholarship for active members.

This $3,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who has been highly active in the GSA and has become an effective leader.

Shannon Smith, the group’s moderator, is excited about the scholarship.

“I think it shows support for all of Creighton students that the alum is willing to support the GSA, and to me the scholarship exemplifies the GSA’s mission of education at Creighton,” Smith said.

The scholarship is an incentive for students to become involved in the GSA.

Previous members have said the GSA has struggled over the years at Creighton, but this scholarship demonstrates that life is looking good for active members.

One member of the GSA said that although they face a lot of opposition from the administration, when things are good, they are excellent, and the communal relationship has provided many students with an important support system on Creighton’s campus.

This scholarship applauds the student who has shown leadership and exemplary action of the mission statement of the GSA.

Randell Haduca, Arts & Sciences senior and GSA member, said the scholarship is a generous gift of the alumni, who has thus far remained anonymous.

“I think the scholarship is a wonderful incentive for members of the Gay-Straight Alliance to build valuable leadership and character,” Haduca said.

The GSA’s mission focuses on acceptance and education and “intends to address sexual identity within the Catholic, Jesuit tradition and to promote the Ignatian vision which affirms the goodness, worth and dignity of every person,” according to its Web site.

This year’s scholarship was awarded to Sarah Jane Pannella, the president of the GSA. Pannella said that two weeks ago at the GSA meeting, Smith told the group she had a special announcement. Smith continued to tell the group about the scholarship and then revealed that Pannella was the recipient.

“I felt very honored,” she said. “It was nice to see that all my hard work last year as an executive paid off.”

Pannella was the treasurer of the GSA last year, and she organized a newspaper delivery schedule where members of GSA would deliver Sunday newspapers to the dorms. That program funded the organization last year.

This is the first scholarship of its kind at Creighton.

Focusing on acceptance and education, the GSA is open to all students, and meets on Tuesday nights in College of Business.