Union Plus Scholarship

Awarded annually to AFSCME members and their families

Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, has awarded more than $5.2 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education. More than 3,600 families have benefited from our commitment to higher education.

How to Apply

Visit the Union Plus site for more information and to apply online.

2024 Winners

Read the 2024 Union Plus Scholarship press release.

  • Carsyn Casebolt of Delaware, Ohio. Casebolt, whose mother, Kristin Fisher, is a member of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Jacklyn Coglianese of Fresh Meadows, New York. Coglianese, whose mother, Marylouise Raab, is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 372, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Joelle Dunnell of Ione, California. Dunnell, who is a member of AFSCME Council 57, Local 2620, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Amy Abigail Estrada of Southold, New York. Estrada, whose mother, Miriam Huertas, is a member of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000, Unit 870 has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Ariyanna Lenae Fernandez of Olympia, Washington. Fernandez, whose mother, Evette Superales, is a member of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE)/AFSCME Council 28, Local 443, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Rajeana Harris of Lincoln, Nebraska. Harris, who is a member of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE)/AFSCME Local 61, has been awarded a $1,050 scholarship.
  • Troy William Holbrook of East Alton, Illinois. Holbrook, whose father, Randall Holbrook, is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 1805, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Dillon Michael Horrie of Kewanee, Illinois. Horrie, whose father, Landon Horrie, is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 3744 has been awarded a $1,050 scholarship.
  • Addison Grace Hughes of Mount Sterling, Illinois. Hughes, whose father, Aaron Hughes, is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 3567, has been awarded a $1,050 scholarship.
  • Abigaile Nicole Ledbetter of Brownstown, Illinois. Ledbetter, whose father, Lucas Ledbetter, and mother, Monica Ledbetter, are members of AFSCME Council 31, Local 993, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
  • Jacob Mohring of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Mohring, whose father, Andrew Mohring, is a member of AFSCME Council 88, Local 2455, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship. Jacob was a Union Plus Scholarship recipient in 2021 and 2023.
  • Juliet Elizabeth Murray of Rhinebeck, New York. Murray, whose mother, Linda Murray, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Shannen Paige O’Brien of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. O’Brien, who is a member of AFSCME Council 93, Local 1067, has been awarded a $1,050 scholarship.
  • Tangela Yvonne Oliver of Carbondale, Illinois. Oliver, who is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 2806, has been awarded a $1,050 scholarship.
  • Cecilia Ragsdale of San Ysidro, California. Ragsdale, who is a member of United Domestic Workers of America (UDW)/AFSCME Local 3930, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
  • Perla Rodriguez of Roosevelt, New York. Rodriguez, whose mother, Engel Rodriguez, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Unit 830, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Luna Serena Romero of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Romero, whose father, Augustine Romero, is a member of AFSCME Council 18, Local 3022, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
  • Myles Sanders of Matteson, Illinois. Sanders, whose father, Marlon Sanders, is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 2833, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Marina Santini of Georgetown, Delaware. Santini, whose father, Michael Santini, is a member of AFSCME Local 247, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Jackson Nikolai van Pelt of Bellingham, Washington. Van Pelt, whose mother, Colleen van Pelt, is a member of WFSE/AFSCME Council 28, Local 1381, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Eric Velez of Lynnwood, Washington. Velez, who is a member of AFSCME Council 2, Local 1811, has been awarded a $1,050 scholarship.
  • Jacob Thomas Wingate of Lambertville, Michigan. Lambertville, whose mother, Laura Wingate, is a member of AFSCME Council 8, Local 2174, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Eligibility for Scholarships

Current and retiree members of unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (including foster children, step children, and any other child for whom the individual member provides greater than 50% of his or her support) can apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. (Participating union members from Puerto Rico, Canada, Guam and Virgin Islands and U.S. citizens are eligible.) Members do not have to purchase any Union Plus program product or participate in any Union Plus programs to apply for the scholarships and scholarship awards are not based upon participation in a Union Plus program.

The individual must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Note: Graduate students are now eligible.

Evaluation Criteria

The scholarship program is open to students attending or planning to attend a college or university, a community college, or a technical college or trade school. Applicants for scholarships are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

Scholarship applications are judged by a committee of impartial post secondary educators.

Scholarship Award Amounts

The amount of the award ranges from $500 - $4,000. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for study beginning in the fall of the same year.