Although Allen Acevedo and Tony Meyer came of age in disparate Southern California communities, and their coming-out experiences couldn’t have been less alike, both shared an extraordinary drive to succeed.

Born in Mexico, Acevedo spent part of his formative years in the conservative Latino community of Chula Vista, where, at age 13, he was outed by a classmate at Hilltop Middle School. When Acevedo asked the vice principal to intervene, the administrator instead phoned Acevedo’s father to report that his son was causing problems. Acevedo’s father did not take the news well, and Acevedo was ostracized at school.

“It caused problems between my mom and my dad,” recalled Acevedo, who today is largely estranged from his father and has not lived with either parent since turning 18.

Despite Meyer’s conservative Lutheran upbringing in the largely Caucasian, Orange County suburb of Mission Viejo, when he came out to his parents in middle school, they were unconditionally supportive, as were the members of his wrestling team.

“I’m not homophobic, but I think he has a harder road to hoe,” said his father, Tony Meyer Sr., who admittedly shed a tear when his son broke the news. “In life, people will be just naturally more prejudiced toward him…. I’ve told him that people are more accepting of excellence.”

It is advice that Meyer took to heart, graduating as valedictorian of his senior class, with a grade-point-average of 5.11.

Throughout their high school experience, both Acevedo and Meyer channeled their inner strength to benefit others. For their academic excellence and proven leadership abilities, they are among 38 students from around the country to whom the Point Foundation, the country’s largest publicly supported organization granting educational assistance to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender college students, granted scholarships this year.

Jorge Valencia, executive director and chief operating officer of the Point Foundation, was in San Francisco when Acevedo, Meyer and other finalists arrived to field questions from the organization’s board of directors.

“The one thing that is consistent among these young people is that each one of them is completely comfortable in their skin,” Valencia said. “I grew up in a time when people came out when they had created a support network around themselves and had a safe job…. When these young people stepped into that room … you [could] tell that they were not only comfortable in their own skin, but they knew that there was no other option for them other than to say, ‘This is who I am, and I’m going to live my life unapologetically.’”

In its first six years, the Point Foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 100 students through private and corporate donations. With its continuing crop of scholars, the organization will fund 86 students this fall, at an average cost of $13,600 each. Many of them excelled, despite being shunned by family and friends.

“Many are kicked out of their homes … and yet throughout this very difficult process, they continue to maintain this academic excellence because they rightfully feel that they are entitled to every opportunity that is afforded their non-gay peers,” Valencia said.

At Hilltop High School, where Acevedo was a cross-country runner, he was president of the school’s GSA and French club, and founded an Amnesty International club. For three years, he served as student coordinator for the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Jumpstart Leadership Team, as a trainer for GSA Network and as a leader of the Stonewall Young Democrats chapter in San Diego County.

Although Acevedo had largely dealt with his own coming-out issues, he was motivated to revive his school’s lackluster GSA to help others who were struggling with their sexual orientation.

“I just saw a lot of inequality as far as students who are LGBT … the drop-out rate, how likely they are to go to college or even a community college,” said Acevedo, who is traveling the country this summer as a volunteer with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF).

As the first person in his family to attend college or pursue a degree, Acevedo said he sees a direct link between education and marginalization.

“From the honors and AP courses I took in high school, I developed a certain value for education and realize how important it is,” Acevedo said. “It’s taking away from the prejudice that people have about you. One of the most powerful things people can do who are being marginalized or discriminated against is to have [an education]. That person can be an example for other people and show that … you can accomplish just as much if not more than other people.”

Several years before Meyer’s arrival at Mission Viejo High, the school banned all extracurricular clubs to prevent the formation of a GSA. Still, when Meyer arrived, he used his public speaking abilities to persuade administrators that a GSA was needed.

“My dad was worried; my mom was worried and I was a little apprehensive, but nothing happened,” Meyer recalled. “It went over nicely.”

That summer, Meyer attended a summer training session for the GSA Network.

“They talked about founding the GSA and how important it was, especially in places that have kind of more static opposition, like in Orange County, where it’s perhaps not as violently homophobic, but there’s still a lot of administrative discrimination.”

Fluent in English, French and Italian, Meyer spent last summer studying Russian at UCLA. He also has studied German and Mandarin. His plans include attending law or medical school and pursuing a career in public service, possibly as foreign diplomat.

Each year, Point scholars’ funding is renewed, as long as they maintain a 3.5 grade-point-average and participate in a community service project benefiting the GLBT community.

At Harvard College, Meyer plans to promote awareness of bisexual issues within and without the GLBT community.

Ultimately, Meyer said he would like to become a United States senator.

“I love the idea of politics,” he said. “I love what politicians can do if they do it right, and I hate what they can do when they do it wrong.”

Between graduate school and starting his career, Meyer hopes to expand his life experience by serving in the Navy or other branch of the military.

“A lot of my family has been in the military, especially the Navy. So I’d like to have some military service there,” Meyer said. “I think it’s important to have that under your belt…. It kind of gives you the discipline, that sense of integrity that sometimes it seems politicians don’t have.”

Meyer’s father said his son’s success is the result of years of hard work.

“Some people think that he’s a prodigy, but he works for everything that he gets,” Meyer’s father said. “Whereas other kids would go off to the beach and go play, he went and studied.”

As a support system, the Point Foundation links each scholar with a mentor in his or her chosen field of study and geographical area.

Valencia said that by supporting exceptional students, the Point Foundation believes it is making an investment in the future success of GLBT youth.

“Society tells us that LGBT youth are four-and-a-half times more likely to skip school because they’re unsafe,” Valencia said. “LGBT youth are more likely to experience academic problems, substance abuse and low self-esteem.

“When you look at those statistics … LGBT young people are set up for failure. These Point scholars defy every single one of those statistics…. We believe we should be there for these young people who saw the light and need that help to change society.”