| The LEAGUE Foundation is honored to award an annual scholarship in memory of Laurel Hester. |  |
First awarded in 2006, this scholarship is named after the Ocean County, N.J. Police Lieutenant who successfully battled county freeholders for the right to leave her pension and other benefits to her surviving domestic partner, Stacie Andree. In 2007 award winning film maker and director Cynthia Wade documented the last days of Laurel's struggle with her illness and with her fight for equality. "Freeheld" has received many awards with the most notable being the Academy Award (OSCAR(r)) for Best Documentary Short Film and the Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
All applicants are automatically considered for all LEAGUE Foundation Scholarships. The Laurel Hester, Tyler Clementi, Frank Duracher, and Matthew Shepard Memorial Scholarships are the LEAGUE Foundation's highest awards.