Imperial Court of
Nebraska Foundation
The Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation Scholarship
In 1996, Empress XVI, Phoenix Fallentino, created the Iris Phoenix Scholarship under the Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation, a 501c3 entity. The scholarship provided grants for individuals who self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or as a child of a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person. Funds for the scholarship were raised one dollar at a time via raffles, benefits and shows. Potential recipients provided applications which were reviewed by the members of the Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation Board of Governors.
In 2005, The Imperial Court of Nebraska, Inc. which oversaw the court side of the organization merged with The Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation and took on their name and 501c3 status. Several years later, under direction of the Board of Directors, the name for the scholarship was changed to The Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation Scholarship. Applications are now reviewed by an independent panel of local professionals who determine the amount to be received by each applicant.
Today, the ICON Foundation Scholarship continues to raise monies and provide grants for individuals of the LGBT+ community who live in Iowa or Nebraska attending a school of higher learning or individuals from across the country attending a school in Nebraska or Iowa. To date, the scholarship has granted over $150,000 in funds to those in need.
On Friday, May 26, 2023 at The Verdict Bar and Grill, recipients of the 2023 ICON Foundation Scholarship gathered for appetizers, a show and the presentation ceremony. The ICON Foundation was honored to presents $12,000 in scholarships to 10 well deserving individuals.
We will be accepting applications for the 2025 ICON Foundation Scholarship sometime after January 2025. Watch for more information when it becomes avalible.
2024 ICON Foundation Scholarship Winners
The 2024 Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation Scholarship Winners:
Marvin Lazo, Ean Halstead, Amber Neaman, Gale Hall, Andrew Farias, and Dylan Thornburg
Not Pictured: Mya Robinson, Alecia Claar, Chaivey Freeman, Khaled Shnainah, Margaret Youngblood, Victoria Leavitt, and Mitchell Gates
ICON Foundation Board of Directors: Lana Caine, Bill Booe, Chandler Chubbs, Dan Zant, Celeste Yule, Ean Halstead and Sonia Linden Caine
Also Pictured: Creator of the Scholarship Empress XVI, Phoenix Fallentino
Not Pictured: Holly Day
2023 ICON Foundation Scholarship Winners
The 2023 Imperial Court of Nebraska Foundation Scholarship Winners:
Marvin Lazo, Ean Halstead, Ian Crom, Margaret Youngblood, Mitchell Gates, James Watke-Stacy, and Amber Neaman
Not Pictured: Mya Robinson, Alecia Claar, and Alejandro Robles-Rudol
ICON Foundation Board of Directors: Holly Day, Sonia Linden Caine, Bill Booe, Lana Caine, Chandler Chubbs, Scooter Linden Caine, and Paco Perez
Not Pictured: Kindrid and Treasure LC Rose