A Vancouver-based LGBT scholarship program will be celebrating a decade of empowering Canadian students and future LGBT community leaders with education this week.

The Gay and Lesbian Business Association of B.C. and the LOUD Foundation will be holding their 10^th annual LOUD Scholarship Awards from 6 to 9 p.m. this Thursday (May 16) at CBC Studio 700 (700 Hamilton Street).

LOUD stands for leadership, opportunity, unity, and diversity, and the scholarships are given to individuals who are emerging leaders of Canadian LGBT communities who can help to improve society and increase awareness of diversity.

The scholarships were launched in 2009 when LOUD awards three scholarships of $2,000 plus a $1,000 scholarship created by the late Jim Deva, owner of Little Sister’s Bookstore (who the West End's Jim Deva Plaza was named after).

Last year, 16 scholarships were given out for a total amount of $31,000 in bursaries.

But this year, 19 scholarships will be granted for a total of $38,000 with recipients from across the country from Victoria, B.C., to Saint John, New Brunswick, and ages ranging from 14 to 37 years old.

The event will include catering from the Butler Did It. Tickets are $100 and available online. More information about the LOUD scholarships are available at the LOUD Business website.