Labor & Employment Law

Apply Now for 2011 Union Plus Scholarships

By Mike Hall

Since 1991, Union Plus has awarded more than $3 million in college scholarships to 1,900 union members and their families. Applications are now available for the 2011 Union Plus Scholarship Program. They must be submitted by Jan. 31. Click here to download the application.

All members of unions participating in the Union Plus programs (as well as their spouses and dependent children) are eligible to apply for scholarships. In addition to demonstrating academic ability, applicants submit essays describing their career goals, detailing their relationship with the union movement and making the case for why they deserve a union scholarship.

The awards are granted to students attending two-year colleges, four-year colleges, graduate school or recognized technical or trade schools. The awards range from $500 to $4,000.

This year, 121 scholarships worth $150,000 were awarded, including one to Kelsey Larson, whose father, Leon, is a member of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 292 in Minneapolis. Larson, who is studying to become a math teacher, says:

I look forward to being part of a teachers? union, enjoying the same stability, benefits and safe environment that my dad was able to have in the IBEW.

The scholarship program is sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, part of Union Privilege, which provides consumer benefits to members and retirees of participating unions. HSBC, the issuer of the Union Plus credit card, funds the scholarships.

In addition to the scholarships, Union Plus offers the following benefits to 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 November 11, 2010 (boomark / email).