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April 19 of this year is a day I shall always remember.

It was my first meeting with the Albuquerque Human Rights Board and the 10th annual Neil Ibsin Scholarship Award ceremony, both held at the Albuquerque Human Rights Office in the Plaza del Sol Building in Downtown Albuquerque.

I had cut short another city board meeting just so I could be there. Since then, I have attended all board meetings, with a greater awareness of civil rights.

The mission of the Albuquerque Human Rights Office is to ensure that all people may enjoy their rights and pursue opportunities on an equal basis and to promote trust, respect, understanding and equality. Based on these principles, four high school seniors were given scholarships to be used at colleges of their choice. The recipients were Graciela Lopez of Highland High School, Justin Carlton Remer-Thamert of Albuquerque High School, Elizabeth Brito of St. Pius X High School and Pascuala Gabriela Mayorga of West Mesa High School.

In 1996, Herb and Katie Ibsin established a scholarship trust fund named in memory of their son, Neil Ibsin, who died on Aug. 9 of that year. In 1997, the board added the presentation of the award to its awards program. The trust fund is administered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Human Rights Board established the criteria and selects the individuals to receive the award in the spring of each year.

Neil Ibsin was a longtime human rights activist from the gay and lesbian community, who fought for equality and justice for everyone. He dedicated his life to social change, health care reform, human rights and dignity. Neil received an Albuquerque Human Rights Award, Peace and Justice Award, New Mexico Solidarity Award and Common Bond Presidential Award as well as other public-service honors. Neil was an active proponent of legislation to amend the N.M. Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In the spring of 2007, several Neil Ibsin scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to senior-high students from Albuquerque public, private or alternative high schools. Recipients must demonstrate human rights and human dignity achievements or ongoing volunteer work in the area of human rights and human dignity in Albuquerque and be enrolled or enrolling at an accredited university or college.

Qualified high school seniors who are interested may apply by writing: Albuquerque Human Rights Board, P.O. Box 1293, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103. They may contact the board in person at the Plaza del Sol Building, 600 Second Street N.W., Suite 520. The phone number is 505-924-3380, the N.M. relay is 800-659-8331, the fax is 505-924-3372, and the e-mail address is: www.cabq.gov/humanrights

The application should include name, address, telephone number and a summary of the student's experience and interest in human rights and human dignity. Documentation of these achievements should accompany the application, along with a letter of reference from a current teacher and another from a principal or counselor. One of the letters must include verification of the student's eligibility to attend college. A personal letter of reference must also be included. The application deadline is 5 p.m. March 5, 2007.

This scholarship is open to all eligible high school seniors, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability status.

The public may request information or publications from the Albuquerque Human Rights Office, as well as presentations or workshops on sexual harassment, fair housing, cultural sensitivity, civil rights laws and religion in the work place. Videos on human rights topics and diverse cultures are available, as are booklets. For children, there are coloring books on diversity. The office also provides studies on the existence of discrimination in our community.