Description
The Cody Petzold Rainbow Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Cody Dylan Petzold, an outstanding scholar, student leader, mentor and proponent for equality. Cody embraced diversity and saw the rainbow as a symbol of acceptance. Through this scholarship that rainbow lights the way for other young leaders to make a positive difference and affect change.
Donations are applied to...
The Cody Petzold Rainbow Scholarship and will be awarded to students with strong leadership skills who demonstrate LGBT+ promotion and awareness.
Your gift will help endow this scholarship so that it can be given in perpetuity to future scholars who also share Cody's passions and beliefs.
Cody Petzold Rainbow Scholarship
To date, just over $18,000 has been raised towards the goal of $25,000 needed to endow this scholarship. With only $7,000 left to raise, we are so close to ensuring that the Cody Petzold Rainbow Endowed Scholarship will be available to student leaders supporting LGBT+ awareness in perpetuity. With your support, Cody's impact will continue at Oakland University for future generations!
After August 31, please call (248) 370-4504 to make a gift to the Cody Petzold Rainbow Scholarship.
About Cody
Graduating valedictorian from Holly High School in 2011, Cody became an Oakland University Presidential Scholar in addition to multiple other awards. In his first year at OU, Cody became an Honors College member, a Credit Union One Scholar and a Center for Multicultural Initiatives Scholarship recipient.
During his four years on campus, Cody held many leadership positions: Orientation Guide Leader, CMI Mentor, Academic Peer Mentor, Resident Assistant, Vice-President of the Gay-Straight Alliance, and Gender Sexuality Center Volunteer.
Cody was an active supporter of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT+) community and worked diligently to promote awareness. He was an advocate for social acceptance, equality, harmony and transformation. Through his enthusiastic involvement he gave guidance to other students on how to achieve their goals through hard work, dedication, commitment and leadership. Cody left a lasting impact on many throughout the University and will long be remembered for encouraging others to become the best version of themselves.
Tragically, an accident cut short Cody's life just one semester before he would have graduated from Oakland University and started his newly obtained job at Fiat Chrysler. In May 2015, he posthumously received his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Development, graduating near the top of his class. Cody was proud of all he accomplished in 21 years, and he would be immensely proud of The Cody Petzold Rainbow Endowed Scholarship!