April Ledbetter

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“As a foster youth, I cannot overstate how empowering and instructive college has been, both academically and personally. I learned about social inequality as I learned how to set-up utilities. I sought support from my mentors as I began to support my family. And finally, I have emerged a queer, scholar-activist former foster youth, using my knowledge and energy for the promotion of social justice.”

  • Program: 2009 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Cambridge, CA
  • Hometown: Laguna Niguel, California
  • Age: 22

Biography

PROFILE: Her earliest memories are of her parents on drugs resulting in Child Protective Services in Southern California removing April from their custody. She spent time in transitional housing until April’s Aunt Kristen and Uncle Andre took her in as their foster child. They taught April the value of education and, most importantly, loved and appreciated her quirks, even as her teachers were raising their eyebrows. April considers her education to be “a privilege” and will continue using her knowledge and resources to give back to her community. She’s overcome a tremendous number of difficulties to get where she is now: on her way to graduate school in England, and an honors graduate of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a 3.99 grade point average. During her time at UCLA, April managed to win awards for writing and academics, was a star on the Bruins’ Fencing Team, and recently completed a thesis on LGBT issues in Harry Potter fan communities, for which she received honors commendations. She majored in English and minored in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender studies (LGBT). In her “spare time”, she volunteered with organizations involved with homeless and abused children. In November, she and her wife Julia will celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary, “probably at Disneyland.”

INSPIRATION:  April is especially grateful to her mentors who have supported her throughout her academic career. A few particularly influential individuals have been Dr. Chris Mott for his knowledge, patience, and open-mindedness, Dr. La’Tonya Rease-Miles, director of the McNair Program, for her no-nonsense guidance, Dr. Jennifer Wilson, UCLA’s Assistance Vice Provost for Honors and Mrs. Akers, April’s third-grade teacher, who first told April that she was a talented writer.

ASPIRATION: April would like to use the resources granted to her by her education to make creative interventions in academia and activism, or as she puts it: “Mild-mannered scholar by day; Social Justice Super Hero by night.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: While April has given her time over the years helping fellow foster youth as a volunteer at the Orangewood Children’s Foundation and the United Friends of Children, she’s most proud of the fact that, as a result of her “constant propagandizing,” her little sister wants to go to college and become a social worker. 

ACCOLADES: To name just a few of the honors April’s received over the past few years: She is one of three recipients of the Charles E. Young Undergraduate Award, given to the top undergraduates at UCLA; the English department's Hastings Scholarship; and the Dean's Prize for Poetry for the best poem published in Westwind, UCLA's undergraduate literary journal.

INTERESTING FACT: It’s an inside joke with April’s friends and family that no matter how hard she tries, “I can’t cook. Once, I messed-up 90-second rice 10 seconds after my dad said, ‘This is idiot-proof.’ “

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