Labor & Employment Law

Union Plus Awards $150K in Scholarships

By Mike Hall

Brianna Pang
Brian Delfs

Some 121 union members and union family members have been awarded $150,000 in scholarships, ranging from $500 to $4,000, by the 2010 Union Plus Scholarship Program. Says Union Plus President Leslie Tolf:

“During these challenging economic times, with college tuition rising and many working families struggling just to get by, we?re pleased to be helping some of the labor movement?s most promising students achieve their college dreams.”

Since the scholarship program began in 1991, Union Plus has awarded $3 million in educational funding to more than 1,900 union members, spouses and children.

The awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school or a recognized technical or trade school.

Brianna Pang, of Oakland, Calif., whose mother Janet Yan is a member of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 21 won a $4,000 scholarship. As a peer counselor in high school Brianna says she saw the terrible impact that dropping out of school, teen pregnancy and alcohol and drug abuse have on young people. At Stanford University she will major in public policy to develop ways to improve opportunities for young people and ?help build the barrier on top of the cliff of that leads to the sea peril.?

Tucson, Ariz., Fire Fighter (IAFF)  Brian Delfs, plans to use his $1,000 award to help him finish graduate school and he hopes to run for political office. Delfs has been an IAFF Local 479 member and officer for more than two decades and wants continue helping working families

The best way to further our movement is to promote union leaders into positions where we can affect policy.

Click here for a full list of winners.

In addition to the scholarships, Union Plus offers the following benefits help union families afford higher education:

• College Savings Grants to help families save for their young children?s futures.
• National labor College scholarships to help union members and leaders finish their degrees at the National Labor College with an affordable, flexible and convenient online program.
• Scholarships to obtain a Green Workplace Representative Certificate from the National Labor College.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on June 28, 2010 (boomark / email).