Allie Deford of Lafayette Wins Toyota Diversity Scholarship

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Allie Deford (right) and Orvietta Shannon of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc.

EVANSVILLE, IN (01/22/2013)(readMedia)-- University of Evansville junior Allie Deford, a computer science major from Lafayette, Indiana, has won the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. Diversity Month Scholarship.

The $5,000 scholarship was presented Monday, January 21, as part of the University's Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities. Deford, a graduate of McCutcheon High School, was selected as the recipient by a committee of representatives from UE.

At the University of Evansville, Deford is involved in activities such as the Association of Computing Machinery, Society of Women Engineers, and PRIDE. She studied abroad at UE's British campus, Harlaxton College, as a sophomore and has completed a software development internship with Ciholas, Inc. in downtown Evansville.

After graduation, Deford plans to work as a software engineer and is considering a master's degree in human-computer interaction.

"I am honored to have been granted this scholarship, especially because it is for identifying as an LGBT person," Deford said. "LGBT people are making bigger and bigger strides in gaining rights and being recognized across the nation and in Indiana, and this feels a little bit like my own part in that. Respect for diversity of all groups of people is starting to take hold, and that is so encouraging."

The TMMI scholarship was established in 2008 to honor National Diversity Month (October). Each year, the $5,000 non-renewable scholarship is awarded to a University of Evansville student and formally presented during UE's Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance.