For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
AFSCME Members and Family Members Awarded Union Plus Scholarships
Union Plus Provides $200,000 to Help Students from Union Families Achieve Their Dreams
Washington, D.C. — The 18th Annual Union Plus Scholarship Awards have just been announced, and four members of AFSCME, along with 16 AFSCME family members, are among the recipients.
- Andrew Barna of Troy, NY, whose mother Sheila Barna is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
- Aaron Cantor of Coatesville, PA, whose father Geoffrey Cantor is a member of AFSCME Local 2455, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
- Norah Carroll of Rosemount, MN, whose father Kevin Carroll is a member of AFSCME Local 9, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
- Erik Culross of Ashland, OH, whose mother Sandra Culross is a member of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
- Shirlana Dash of Philadelphia, PA, who is a member of AFSCME Local 2187, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
- John Ertl of Park Falls, WI, whose mother Mary Ertl is a member of AFSCME Local 1941 (Council 24), has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
- Bryan Greel of Rockport, MA, whose father Donald Greel Jr. is a member of AFSCME Local 1679, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
- Emily Hart of Palmyra, PA, whose mother Cheryl Hart is a member of AFSCME Local 2524 (Council 90), has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship.
- Nicholas Hilgeman of Whitehouse, OH, whose mother Michele Shepler is a member of AFSCME Local 3794, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
- Thomas Joseph of Floral Park, NY, whose father Valsamma Joseph is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
- Cathy Kron of Cincinnati, OH, who is a member of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
- Jacquelyn McGinnis of Warsaw, NY, whose mother Jacqueline McGinnis is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
- Jordan McGroarty of Wilkes-Barre, PA, whose father Thomas McGroarty is a member of AFSCME Local 2453 (Council 13), has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
- Ross Nakahara of Honolulu, HI, whose mother Wendy Nakahara is a member of Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA)/AFSCME Local 152, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
- Michael Natole Jr. of Amsterdam, NY, whose father Michael Natole Sr. and mother Paula Natole both are members of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
- Valerie Pucilowski of Briarcliff Manor, NY, whose mother Ruthann Pisano is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
- Kelley Smith of Trenton, OH, whose father Randall Smith is a member of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
- Stephanie Testani of Williston Park, NY, whose father Ernesto Testani is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
- Debora Wallace-Wood of Columbus, OH, who is a member of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
- Lesa Woitas of Ellsworth, WI, who is a member of AFSCME Local 351 (Council 24), has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
This year $200,000 in Union Plus scholarships is being awarded to 133 students representing over 44 unions. Their accomplishments are impressive, their stories are inspiring and their backgrounds are incredibly diverse. However, they all are united by their connection to the union movement.
Union Plus Helps More Families Achieve College Dreams
A higher education is more important than ever. But with real wages falling for working families, health care costs increasing and tuition rising faster than the rate of inflation, affording an education now is even harder. More than 4,200 applications were received from students representing 49 states, Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“We understand what working families are facing,” says Leslie Tolf, president of Union Privilege, the organization that provides an array of benefit programs for union families, including the scholarship program. “Many of this year’s applicants made it clear that, without help from our scholarship program, they would have to put their dreams on hold or forget about college entirely.”
Meet a 2009 AFSCME Honoree
Thomas Joseph is such a high achiever, excelling at almost everything he does, that it’s a surprise when he begins his scholarship essay with the words “Life is harsh.” Thomas isn’t speaking about his own life, however, for although his parents have faced challenges, they have triumphed over most of them through hard work and with union benefits. Instead, Thomas is speaking of the poverty and many social injustices he has encountered, including on a trip to India where he realized how important it is to have unions to protect workers. Upon graduation with a degree in finance, he says, “I will use my skills and leadership not only in the business world but also in my community, helping nonprofit organizations raise funds and giving back to the country that I so dearly love.”
Learn More About the Union Plus Scholarship Program
Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school or a recognized technical or trade school. Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded $2.8 million in educational funding to 1,813 union members, spouses and dependent children. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.
Please visit the Union Plus Scholarship page for information on eligibility and to apply for next year’s scholarships.
Union Privilege offers many of the AFSCME Advantage benefits, which help union members and their families save money. Union Privilege also provides the Union Safe benefits, which assist union members during difficult times. One of the newest benefits is the College Savings Grant, which helps to spur savings for a bright future by adding to participating members’ contributions.
Other programs include mortgage and finance benefits, education and insurance benefits and even money-saving offers on health services and vacations. AFSCME members can visit the AFSCME Advantage section of AFSCME.org to find out about the AFSCME Advantage benefits.