Labor & Employment Law

Union Plus Scholarships Help Two Workers Pursue Their Dreams

By admin

Laura Dely

Jennifer Wright Dorr at Union Plus sends us this feature about two Union Plus National Labor College scholarship winners.  

Linda Murphy and Laura Dely both know the benefit of a higher education degree and through the Union Plus National Labor College scholarship program, they can achieve their goals of becoming college graduates.

They are two of the eligible students who will be awarded a total of $70,000 in Union Plus National Labor College scholarships in 2011. This is the largest financial aid contribution to the National Labor College (NLC).

A $2,000 Union Plus National Labor College Scholarship came just in time for Dely of Arlington, Va., an unemployed investigative reporter/editor. The scholarship will help her finish her Bachelor of Arts degree at the NLC.

Linda Murphy

?I love reading about all the workers? struggles [and those] who fought for better conditions over the years,? says Dely. ?Workers? stories from the 1930s and 1940s are still the same today.?

Dely is a member of the National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981. She has told many stories of social justice over the years.  She is actively pursuing writing jobs; and, after completing her degree, she hopes to advance her career by working for a union. As a professional writer, she knows her skills will help the labor movement better communicate its value to working Americans.

She says:

My dream job would be to work for a union president and help him or her gain more exposure in the media. I think it is terribly important for unions to meet today?s workplace challenges and present our case in a positive way.

Murphy, a member of California School Employees Association (CSEA) Local 284 in Santa Rosa, Calif., received a $1,334 scholarship. She says:

 The National Labor College is excellent. It?s affordable, there are great teachers, and you can study online. I can take the classes when I need to and study around my schedule.

A para-educator teaching physical education to elementary students, Murphy says one of the reasons she wanted to go back to school is to practice what she preaches. Another reason was to teach her students how to learn by example. You can read more about Murphy and her path to the NLC here.

The scholarship program has provided more than $200,000 to some 160 recipients since it was created in 2002. The NLC offers a unique program that is tailor-made for full-time working men and women. Click here to learn more about the NLC?s degree programs and courses.

Union Plus provides funds to enable union members to complete degrees in business administration, construction management, emergency readiness and response, labor studies, and more. This year, Union Plus is offering scholarships to cover the costs of digital learning classes at the NLC for the upcoming May semesters. Learn more at http://www.nlc.edu/new-students/degree.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 19, 2011 (boomark / email).