Amplifying Our Community at the GSBA Scholars Celebration
A Guest Blog by Jennifer O’Neal, CEO and Co-Founder of Live Oak AV
In April, I had the joy of sitting beside a Resident at Seattle Children’s Hospital during GSBA’s annual Scholars Celebration luncheon. Over brunch and laughter, they shared how the GSBA scholarship changed the trajectory of their life. In that moment, I was reminded that this is what a community looks like. This is why we show up.
At Live Oak AV, we believe in amplifying our community, and not just through speakers and microphones. We amplify the community by supporting the people and events that create real change. That’s why sponsoring this year’s GSBA Scholars Celebration was more than another event for us, it was an extension of who we are.
The Scholars Celebration isn’t your typical awards brunch. Think: rainbow confetti energy meets graduation meets dance party complete with unicorns, live music, and joyful tears. It’s vibrant, heartfelt, and proudly authentic, just like the LGBTQ+ scholars it honors. As Stacy Harbour-Van Hoy the Scholarship & Education Fund Director at GSBA says, it is the graduation party you always wish you had. Led by the always-inspiring Aleksa Manila, this year’s event celebrated resilience and belonging.
Before the program even started, GSBA hosted a special social hour where scholars gathered to connect with each other and with staff. Every place setting included a custom placemat, filled with personal photos of the scholars and powerful insights about the impact of the program. We learned that 81% of GSBA Scholars graduate — far surpassing the national average — and that continued funding boosts those outcomes even further. Half of the scholars are first-generation college students, and they’re pursuing degrees across a wide range of industries.
It was a small detail that told a big story: this program changes lives.
We welcomed new scholars, celebrated returning ones, and witnessed the power of what happens when a community invests in its future.
Since the GSBA Scholarship & Education Fund began, it has invested almost 7 million dollars in LGBTQ+ and allied students. These students are becoming doctors, engineers, artists, activists, and leaders. For many of them, this scholarship opened a door that might otherwise have stayed closed.
That’s why Live Oak AV keeps showing up. You’ll see us setting up mics, adjusting lights, and giving tech support at queer events across Seattle. But more importantly, you’ll see us there as people, neighbors, and co-creators of safe and empowering spaces.
In moments like these, showing up matters.
Many nonprofits are facing rising demand and shrinking budgets. Some are losing crucial federal funding. That means the support of the local community becomes even more vital. Events fortify the very structures that hold our community together.
One of the most inspiring things to witness is how deeply volunteer-driven the GSBA Scholarship Fund program is. With a scholarship staff of only three people, GSBA receives over 400 scholarship applications every year. Volunteers step in to help review each one. Then, many of those same volunteers come to the celebration and get to see the impact of their time and effort in a very real way.
It’s easy to get discouraged right now. There’s a lot of noise. There’s burnout and budget cuts, and moments when the road ahead can feel unclear. But gatherings like the Scholars Celebration cut through all of that. They remind us that joy is a form of resistance. Supporting each other in tangible ways, whether by donating, volunteering, or just showing up, builds resilience.
At Live Oak AV, we approach our work with care and a desire to simplify what can often feel overwhelming. We do not just run your tech. We help amplify your message, support your people, and create spaces where everyone feels seen and heard.
Being in that room, surrounded by stories of purpose and potential, was a privilege. It reminded us what’s possible when we invest in each other. And it affirmed something we’ve always believed at Live Oak: when we amplify community, everyone rises.
Thank you to GSBA for creating spaces where celebration, equity, and community come together. We are honored to support you and the scholars who continue to inspire us all.
Keep The Celebration Going
Curious about the GSBA Scholarship Fund and the incredible students it supports?
You can learn more or make a donation that helps lift up the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.
Learn more about the GSBA Scholarship Fund
Want to learn more about Live Oak AV and see how we show up across Seattle?
Check out our website or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to stay connected and see what we’re working on next.
