In 2013, Lars Etzkorn, AB ’87, founded the Washington University Pride Alumni Network (WUpan) to support and cultivate community amongst LGBTQIA+ students and alumni. Today, WUpan honors Etzkorn’s original vision with its mission to foster fellowship and promote well being across the WashU LGBTQIA+ community, from current students and alumni to faculty and staff.
WUpan hosts an annual reception for alumni at WashU Reunion in April and celebrates Pride Month each June at St. Louis PrideFest’s Pride Parade. Each year, the group also honors one undergraduate and one graduate student with the WUpan Leadership Development Award. Recipients of the scholarship award are either members or allies to the LGBTQIA+ community who successfully demonstrate a commitment to leadership through co-curricular engagement.
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Upcoming Network Events
WUpan’s commitment to student learning, civic engagement
Initially launched as a social outlet, WUpan has expanded its activities and investment in current students through the WUpan Leadership Development Award and a WUpan-sponsored fellowship with the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement
WUpan Leadership Development Award recipients
Undergraduate student recipients
Melissa Gibson
Arts & Sciences Class of 2024
Braxton Sizemore
Arts & Sciences Class of 2024
Graduate student recipients
Iulia Tothezan
Brown School Class of 2023
Undergraduate student recipients
Luka Cai, AB ’20
Brown School Class of 2022
Graduate student recipients
Riott Kochman, MSW ’20
Undergraduate student recipients
Kris Wilson, AB ’20
Brown School Class of 2021
Graduate student recipients
Anya Fisher, MSW ’19