Amanda Cheyney: NRCF Volunteer Spotlight
June 12, 2025 | By NRCF Volunteer
From Scholarship Recipient to Champion of Dreams
National Rainbow College Fund (NRCF) is dedicated to advancing educational equity for LGBTQ+ students, many of whom face unique barriers to accessing and completing higher education. Through scholarships, mentorship, and volunteer engagement, NRCF fosters a powerful community of support for students..
One such volunteer is Amanda Cheyney, whose own journey from struggling student to successful professional fuels her passion for helping the next generation thrive.
“I needed hope and NRCF gives me hope,” shares Amanda Cheyney, a NRCF volunteer whose own journey from struggling student to successful professional fuels her passion for supporting the next generation.
“Having the opportunity as an NRCF volunteer to read the scholarship essays and hear directly from these amazing and different human beings about their lives and dreams was truly inspiring. These students have incredible potential. It was almost like I could hear each of the students’ voices asking to be selected as an NRCF scholarship recipient.”
What struck Amanda most profoundly was witnessing young people connect their lived experiences to their future aspirations. “I loved learning how their experiences impacted them and how they want to help others because of that through their educational goals. I was particularly struck by how so many students at such a young age were able to tie it all together—to explain how they were ready to do good in the world. Seeing how students connected the dots from their respective backgrounds to their future career goals was very special.”
Roots of Resilience
Amanda’s appreciation for education and opportunity runs deep, rooted in her family’s immigrant story. In San Diego, her mother was one of twelve siblings—all first-generation immigrants. Her mother was the only one in her family to finish high school and pursue higher education, instilling in Amanda from an early age that “education is a way to improve your life and have options for the future.”
But Amanda’s path wasn’t straightforward. She overcame significant barriers in her childhood, navigating challenges stemming from mental health issues, alcoholism, and chronic disease within her family system. The responsibility was overwhelming—she ultimately became head of her household during high school.
The Nontraditional Journey
“As a nontraditional student my whole young adult life, I knew education would open doors for a better quality of life,” Amanda reflects. Having attended school in Mexico herself, she found deep resonance with many of the scholarship applicants’ stories. “A lot of the scholarship applicants are the first in their family to aspire to get a college degree, and they will have to grapple with multiple challenges to get there. They have to work, and they also need financial support. The FAFSA is not enough. It will take a second job in some cases.”
The memories of her own struggles remain vivid. “This took me back to my own experiences. I was older when I was going to school than the average student. I was also a caregiver for my family member and continued to contend with being low-income throughout this time. Honestly, I was always on the verge of a mental breakdown because I was juggling way too much.”
The Power of Belief
It was during this challenging time that Amanda experienced firsthand the transformative power of scholarship support—not just financially, but emotionally and psychologically. “I remember the power of my own first scholarship. It wasn’t the actual dollar amount—this particular scholarship was about $500. It was the fact that an organization believed in me.”
That moment of recognition changed everything for her. “It wasn’t just my dream anymore. Others saw something in me and what I could bring to the world. I realized I have to be successful. I have to keep going. This organization believed in me. Validation—that’s what this scholarship meant to me. I matter. I can do this. There are people who believe in me and support me.”
Paying It Forward
Reading the NRCF essays brought those memories flooding back, reminding Amanda how transformative external validation can be for struggling students. “It was the ray of light I needed to keep persevering. Being a volunteer at NRCF is a way for me to cheer these young students on. I wanted to say to every single applicant: you can do this! I could tell from their essays that they know it’s a long journey. They’re aware of all the injustices—whether social, political, or economic.”
What particularly resonated with Amanda was recognizing the intersectionality of the students’ identities and experiences. “I’ve by no means had a traditional career pathway. I followed my professional abilities and personal interests. I had a strong drive and am fortunate to now have a very happy life. I bring all of my lived experiences with me to my current work and personal life. I don’t compartmentalize.”
She sees this same integration in the scholarship applicants. “I can see how many of these students are also starting the path of bringing all aspects of their past history and current life together in nontraditional ways to do good in the world.”
Connecting People and Possibilities
Today, Amanda works as a client advisor to small businesses, where she enjoys connecting different types of people and businesses to resources. She helps them identify challenges and goals while connecting them with subject matter experts and grants. “By removing barriers and clearing the path to success, I bring people and resources together—much like my volunteer role as an essay reviewer at NRCF.”
Her commitment to community extends beyond her professional work. She serves on the board of Community Health Improvement Partners, where she applies both her lived experience and professional expertise. “This organization develops leadership and offers support for housing, independent living, recovery housing, suicide prevention, food systems, and more. We work on systemic issues, public policy, and funding needs.”
A Beacon of Hope
Through her volunteer work with NRCF, Amanda has found a way to transform her own struggles into a source of hope for others. “Reading these essays offered a glimpse into the beauty of so many different stories and human beings’ lives. It gives me hope in these times of uncertainty and negativity.”
From a young woman juggling impossible responsibilities to a professional dedicated to removing barriers for others, Amanda’s journey embodies the ripple effect of believing in someone’s potential. Through NRCF, she continues to pay forward the validation and hope that once carried her through her darkest moments, ensuring that the next generation of students knows they, too, can do this—and that someone believes in them.
Want to Make a Difference?
Here’s how you can support LGBTQ+ students:
Every action counts — thank you for being part of this movement for educational equity and opportunity. No LGBTQ+ student should ever have to choose between their safety and their educational dreams.