WESTERN N.C. -- Every year Catawba Valley Pride awards a $500 scholarship to a high school senior who is a member or ally of the LGBT+ community. 

But this year, the group is facing more push-back than usual after a "letter to the editor" published in the Hickory Daily Record accused the scholarship of being discriminatory. 

The writer, Carrol R. Williams, writes, "So all of you high school seniors who are residents of these counties mentioned have just been discriminated against because you are not LGBT or their ally." 

Williams goes on to write, "How is that a community organization who says that they want unity in our country, promote discrimination against [high school] seniors who do not support their agenda?"

Kimberly Naff, a member of Catawba Valley Pride, was confused by the accusation saying, “Their primary argument, from what I could tel,l was that it wasn't going towards people who were discriminatory?”

Naff says the point of the scholarship is to award individuals who have contributed positively to the LGBT community. 

The requirements for an individual to apply for the scholarship are:

• Must be a member of, or an ally to, the LGBT+ community.
• Must be a graduating high school senior entering an institution of higher education in the Fall.
• Must be have applied to, and been accepted by, a 4 year college, 1-2 year community college, or vocational school for the upcoming academic year.
• Must provide an unofficial copy of their High School transcript showing a minimum GPA of 3.0.

“The main part is that they have to show a willingness to help that community," says Naff. "We are open to anyone who wants to join us."

More info on the scholarship can be found here.