This year’s Yankees-Stonewall scholarship recipients were honored on the field during a pregame ceremony before the Bronx Bombers’ June 16 game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The scholarship, established in 2019 to mark Stonewall 50, is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior from each borough, providing $10,000 per student to help cover college expenses.
The on-field ceremony is part of the Yankees’ Legacy of Pride initiative, which includes the scholarship, ceremony, and a special ticket offer, with proceeds supporting the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative.
This year’s recipients are Kai Almonte Valera from the Bronx, attending Le Moyne College; Zamuel Duran Yepes from Brooklyn, attending CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Nico Weisberger from Manhattan, attending Swarthmore College; and Lucianna Lombardi from Staten Island, attending SUNY New Paltz. The recipient from Queens chose to remain anonymous.
The New York City Department of Education leads the nomination process, while the selection is managed by the Department of Education along with the Yankees, the Stonewall Inn, and Athlete Ally, a non-profit promoting inclusion in sports.
“I was deeply inspired by each of this year’s Yankees-Stonewall scholarship recipients, and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments,” said Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman. “These scholarships are awarded to individuals who have demonstrated that they are on the path to making our world a more tolerant and compassionate place. Knowing what all our scholars have done to this point in their lives, I can’t wait to see the impact they have on the future. The LGBTQ+ community should know that Yankee Stadium will always be a place where they can feel safe and encouraged to be who they are.”
Stacy Lentz, a co-owner of the Stonewall Inn, praised the students, saying, “I can’t say enough about the maturity, kindness, and ambition of the young people we are honoring this year. They have incredible things ahead of them, and it’s an honor for us to assist them in moving forward along their respective paths.”
The Yankees’ Legacy of Pride event took place shortly after the Mets held a vibrant Pride Night at Citi Field, which included a Pride tank top giveaway, a pre-game party, and a special ticket offer featuring a Pride Night fanny pack, with proceeds benefiting NYC Pride.
Below, see some photos from the on-field ceremony at Yankee Stadium.
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