Celebrating pride in education, art, and baseball
Gena Valentine awarded Jackie McKethen Scholarship for LGBTQIA Students
By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
Graduate student Gena “Gynx” Valentine says receiving Governors State University's (GovState) Jackie McKethen Scholarship for LGBTQIA Students has reignited a creative passion to bring more art to the world.
“I feel that the world needs art because it's in a language that transcends spoken word,” said Gena, a mixed media sculptor. “It's accessible and tangible to all walks of life. Not just tangible in a sense of physical touch, but emotional and even spiritual. Art was the first form of human communication, and I think that's beautiful.”
Gena, who is nonbinary, is currently pursuing their Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art at GovState and anticipates graduating in 2027.
“I draw heavy inspiration from romanticizing the mundane of everyday life and the haunting beauty of physicality,” said Gena. “What I mean by the mundane of everyday life is the uniqueness of individuality. Everybody's life is different, just like everybody's definition of normalcy is never the same thing, and there's a beauty in that.”
“As far as the haunting beauty of physicality, I enjoy the study of the body and its mortality,” they added. "Not so much the existential question of "why are we alive?", but more along the lines of what keeps us alive, physically, medically. My work makes people look within themselves and within others in a literal sense."
When reflecting on receiving the scholarship, Gena expressed gratitude for a lighter financial load.
“My parents have sacrificed so much to support my higher education, and this award helps ease their financial burden in ways I can’t fully express,” said Gena.
The scholarship, which awards one student with $500 for books and expenses, is personally funded by long-time supporter of GovState and local transgender community activist, Jackie McKethen.
Supporting students is a point of pride for McKethen. This year, GovState is inviting the Jaguar community to join McKethen in her efforts to fund the scholarship through one of her lifelong loves: baseball.
Organized by the University's College of Arts and Sciences, the Pride at the Park fundraiser seeks to celebrate love, unity, and GovState pride at Rate Field on June 18 for the White Sox vs. the Cardinals game.
Tickets purchased through GovState’s link will support the Jackie McKethen Scholarship; $5 from each ticket will go to the scholarship and the first 500 purchasers receive a free Pride Night White Sox hat.
To purchase tickets to the game in support of GovState's fundraiser, click here. The White Sox will play against the Cardinals on Wednesday, June 18 at 6:40 p.m. at Rate Field, 333 W 35th St, Chicago, Illinois 60616.
To donate directly to the Jackie McKethen Scholarship for LGBTQIA Students, click here.