JUNE 17, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK YANKEES TO CELEBRATE NEW YORK’S LEGACY OF PRIDE
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RECIPIENTS OF EIGHTH ANNUAL YANKEES-STONEWALL SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE TO BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, AT YANKEE STADIUM
Representatives from the Yankees, New York City Public Schools and The Stonewall Inn will take part in tonight’s pregame ceremonies and will be available on the field for media at approximately 6:00 p.m.
The New York Yankees today announced details regarding a celebration of New York’s Legacy of Pride, which will take place tonight, Wednesday, June 17, at Yankee Stadium, prior to the 7:05 p.m. Yankees-White Sox game. The Yankees will shine a spotlight on the 2026 recipients of the Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship Initiative, which on a yearly basis awards $50,000 worth of scholarships through five $10,000 college grants to one graduating high school senior from each of the five boroughs of New York City.
First awarded in 2019 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn Uprising, the annual scholarships celebrate student leaders who have demonstrated academic achievement, a commitment to equality and impactful support for the LGBTQ+ community. The awards are intended to provide resources to launch the honorees’ educational and career goals.
As part of the festivities, the recipients of the 2026 Yankees-Stonewall scholarships will be guests of the Yankees for the game this evening, and they will be recognized in a pregame ceremony along with representatives from the Yankees, The Stonewall Inn and New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE).
The nomination process is initiated by the New York City Department of Education, and the selection process is conducted by the NYC DOE with input from representatives from the Yankees, The Stonewall Inn and Athlete Ally.
In 2019, a permanent plaque was dedicated to commemorate the inclusive spirit of Yankee Stadium and the 50th Anniversary of the events at the Stonewall Inn that sparked the modern LGBTQ+ Movement (a plaque image may be found by clicking here).
The 2026 Yankees-Stonewall Scholarship recipients are:
- Marianna Zayas of the Bronx – Bronx Health Sciences High School, will attend Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Janis Tsang of Brooklyn – New Utrecht High School, will attend Georgetown University
- Ocean Hiller of Manhattan – High School for Math, Science and Engineering, will attend Reed College
- Zoe Regoso of Queens – Francis Lewis High School, will attend Mount Holyoke College
- Manny Torres of Staten Island – Port Richmond High School, will attend Brooklyn College
“As I am every year, I was deeply inspired by each of our Yankees-Stonewall scholarship recipients, and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments,” said Yankees Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Cashman. “These scholarships are given to individuals who have impacted their community with kindness and compassion. They make those around them better and have the drive to continue employing that spirit at college and beyond. We hope they know that Yankee Stadium will always be a place where they — along with the entire LGBTQ+ community — can feel welcome, safe, supported and encouraged.”
“We are ecstatic to once again partner with the New York Yankees in identifying future leaders in the LGBTQ+ community,” said Stacy Lentz, Stonewall Inn Co-Owner & Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative CEO. “Our honorees have outstanding character and fortitude, and they are destined to positively impact how we all relate to one another.”
“The Yankees’ continued commitment toward the LGBTQ+ community is a powerful statement of recognition,” said Kurt Kelly, Stonewall Inn Owner & Co-founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. “As time marches on, we have a responsibility to ensure that our community has individuals who can light the way forward — which is exactly what these scholarships are meant to do.”
—nyy—