Silver City, NM, April 10, 2023—PFLAG Silver City is pleased to announce the recipients of the Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship at Western New Mexico University. The recipients are Natalee Drissell and Zoë Chatterton.

Scholarship recipient Natalee DrissellDrissell, a current high school senior, will be attending WNMU in the fall majoring in Art and minoring in English. Originally from Iowa, she now lives in Silver City. She shares, “I am so honored to receive the PFLAG scholarship! As a young bisexual woman, diversity and inclusion are crucial to me in all aspects of my life. Representation in art and stories has always been important to me as I explore my identity, which ties in with my studies in both English and Art. In my time at WNMU, I hope to provide others with the support the arts have shown me.”

Chatterton is in her final year at WNMU majoring in Sociology and minoring in Applied Spanish. She is also captain of the varsity women’s volleyball team. She plans to continue her education at Oregon State University and pursue a Master’s in Public Policy with a minor in Queer Studies. She shares, “I am so appreciative of PFLAG for choosing me as a scholarship recipient. Being a bisexual woman, LGBTQ+ equality is of the utmost importance to me, and is something that I plan on continuing to study and work toward with my graduate degree and eventual career. This scholarship will be used to fund my academic and athletic involvement at WNMU.”

Scholarship recipient Zoë ChattertonThis scholarship honors the memory of the former PFLAG Fairbanks, Alaska and PFLAG Silver City president Nancy Kailing---teacher, PFLAG mom, and advocate. It is open to LGBTQ+ students and allies at WNMU who have demonstrated work toward LGBTQ+ equality.

PFLAG  is the nation's first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them. For more information, call 575-590-8797 or go to pflagsilver.org and pflag.org.