Scholarships for Union Families
An educated workforce packs more power
Union members and their families who wish to pursue post-high school education have a number of scholarship opportunities available in the upcoming months. Members of any union that participate in any Union Plus program (the UAW does) are eligible to apply to the Union Plus Scholarship program. Applications are now available for these $500 to $4,000 scholarships for students attending or planning to attend a four-year college or university, community college, technical college or trade school in fall 2003. Applicants are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.
Since 1992, more than $1.6 million in Union Plus scholarships have gone to members of more than 13 million working families. In 2002, Carrie Sorenson, daughter of a Local 6000 member, was awarded $4,000; Amy McCarthy, daughter of a Local 598 member and Christiana Stoker, daughter of a Local 12 member, were each awarded $1,000.
To get an application for a scholarship, send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and union affiliation to Union Plus Scholarship Education Foundation, c/o Union Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043; or download an application by logging on to the Web site www.unionplus.org and clicking on Education Services.
Application packets must have a postmark of no later than Jan. 31, 2003. Winners will be notified on May 31, 2003.
There are also a number of scholarships offered by UAW local unions and regions, and a number of companies with UAW-represented workers offer contractually negotiated scholarships. Check with your local and region offices for information. Members who work at Big Three companies should call the following phone numbers for information: UAW-GM, 800-650-9671; UAW-Ford, 888-275-5011; UAW-DaimlerChrysler 800-225-1416 (in Michigan) or 800-241-1416 (elsewhere).
Members who work at Delphi, Guide, American Axle, Visteon, ZF Batavia, Rolls-Royce, Lear and Blue Cross Blue Shield (Local 1781, 2145, 2256, 2500 only) should contact their local union officials for information.
UAW members who work at Cornell, Columbia, Eastern Michigan, Northern Michigan, Teachers College, Central Michigan, Boston University, Oberlin, University of Massachusetts (Amherst, Boston, Lowell) are eligible for scholarships, tuition discounts and exemptions and other benefits.
For information about even more scholarship opportunities, log on to the AFL-CIO Web site at www.aflcio.org/scholarships/scholar.htm for a state-by-state listing of programs.
