PEF, its affiliates ready to help
Worried about paying for college?
By SHERRY HALBROOK

Opportunities are increasing for PEF members and their children to compete for free college financial aid available through the union and its affiliated organizations.
Every year, PEF members and their children are among those winning these scholarships even in the large national competitions.

Most, but not all, of the scholarship programs are merit-based and some are aimed at rewarding good students with an interest in labor studies and issues.
More than 400 students compete every year for the 10 Joseph Scacalossi Scholarships worth up to $4,000 each, which are awarded by PEF statewide.

"That's a big competition, but you should not overlook the many PEF regions and divisions that also offer scholarship competitions for members and their families," said Charles McAteer, chair of the PEF Joseph Scacalossi Scholarship Committee and the PEF Region 12 Scholarship Committee.

"The best way to find out these regional and division programs is to ask your steward or council leader," McAteer said.

Substantial scholarships and grants are also offered by both of PEF's international affiliates - the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of Teachers.
More national scholarship opportunities can be found through the state AFL-CIO and Union Plus (formerly Union Privilege).

"PEF members and their children have been very competitive in vying for these awards," McAteer said, "even though they may be up against thousands of other applicants."
McAteer also advised members to check with their local labor councils and other organizations about scholarships or awards they offer.

For instance, this year a new essay contest on labor history has been announced by the Solidarity Committee of the Capital District and Jobs with Justice. It is open to high school students in New York's Capital District.
And New York State offers its own financial aid programs and has created ways to save on taxes while saving for college.

The main financial assistance for most PEF members continuing work-related education comes through their union contract.

However, funding for the PSTP voucher and voucher alternatives programs for PEF's PS&T members are suspended until agreement on a new contract is reached.

However, The Sage Colleges provided a tuition discount to PEF members for the Fall '99 semester. And the College of St. Rose has announced that it will offer them a tuition discount for the Spring 2000 term.

PS&T members who are taking college or other continuing education courses should hold onto their receipts and certificates or transcripts in case reimbursement becomes available again after the contract is settled.

Click here to print out and mail in Scacalossi Scholarship Application Form

NYS AFL-CIO will help educate future labor leader

The state AFL-CIO is another good place for your child to look for help paying for college if he or she wants to become a labor leader.

The NYS Federation offers a scholarship of $8,000, paid over four years, to an affiliate member's child pursuing a degree in labor relations or a related subject.
The winner is chosen on the basis of academic merit and an essay on a labor issue. Finalists are interviewed. Applicants must be:
- A 2000 high school graduate; and
- The child or ward of a member of PEF or other union affiliated with the state AFL-CIO (PEF is AFT/SEIU Local 4053).

For an application and rules call 212-777-6040.
Completed applications must be submitted with required documentation and essay by May 5. Winners will be notified in early summer.

Labor history - earn about it, Write about it,in a prize about it

High school students in the Capital District can learn about local labor history and compete for cash awards by entering the Labor History Essay Contest sponsored by the Solidarity Committee of the Capital District and Jobs with Justice, along with area labor unions.

In fact, additional sponsors are still being sought.
Cash prizes will be awarded for the three winning essays, which will be published in conjunction with a May Day celebration. The winners also will be asked to read their papers at a public ceremony.

Entries must be postmarked no later than Feb. 25, 2000.
Essays "must describe, discuss, analyze some event, person (or persons), or organization in local labor history." Topics could include the history of labor activities in a particular industry, a particular union, an ethnic or racial group, an individual person or the local events around an important national or international labor issue.

The essays should be five to 10 pages, not including title page, bibliography or attachments.
Papers will be judged on the quality of writing and research and must demonstrate academic and scholarly effort. Special consideration will be given to essays on original topics and those incorporating primary research, such as the recollections of older workers.

For more specific rules and information about the Labor History Essay Contest, call Dan Wilcox at (518) 482-0262, or
emailto:wilcox23@juno.com

PEF Scacalossi Scholarships help educate new generation of leaders

PEF has helped pay college expenses for approximately 110 children of PEF members through the union's Joseph Scacalossi Scholarship Awards Program.
Every year for more than a decade, the program has awarded 10 scholarships, each worth $4,000 over four years.

The program is named for Joseph Scacalossi, one of the union's founders and leader of PEF Division 245 at the state Labor Department in New York City until his death in 1988.
"PEF members understand and value the importance of higher education. That's why this union is committed to rewarding academic excellence and helping to educate and prepare the next generation for the challenges of leadership and public service in the new millennium," said PEF President Roger Benson.

The PEF Scholarship Committee - Charles McAteer, Arlene Koniuto, Mary Pierce, Bruce Smith and Socorro Firpo - uses a "blind" review process to impartially select 10 winners from hundreds of applicants each year.

Winners receive $1,000 annually for up to four years, so long as the student remains enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university and maintains acceptable undergraduate academic standing.

Applications are reviewed independently by the PEF scholarship committee members, who evaluate each candidate's application after all identifying information has been removed and replaced by a code. The final, anonymous scores are weighted and tabulated by computer.
Applicants must:
- Be the children, stepchildren, or wards of active, retired or deceased PEF members;
- Be either high school seniors or college (full-time) freshmen; and
- Have taken either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) administered by the College Board, or the American College Test (ACT) administered by the College Testing Program.

To apply, complete and submit by March 17, 2000, the preliminary application (on the back cover of this issue) to:

PEF Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 12414
Albany, NY 12212-2414

Upon approval of the preliminary application, the PEF Scholarship Committee will mail applicants a final application. The final application must be completed and returned to the committee by April 28, 2000, with a copy of the student's high-school transcript and either SAT or ACT results. Winners are notified in June and awards are presented in July or August.

8 children of PEF members at state Parole win Neil Boyle Scholarships
PEF Division 236 at the state Division of Parole has awarded eight $500 college scholarships to children of its members.

The eight winners of the annual Neil Boyle Scholarship awards and the three alternate winners were selected from more than 100 applicants by a random drawing at PEF's recent 1999 Convention in Rochester.

The winners are: Susan A. Biggins, Tracy Johnson, Janeen Spence, Joana Kelly, Michael Bilancini, Erin Oveis, Jonathan Caslin, and Terrance Lawrence.

The three alternates are Elizabeth Muldoon, Jose Rodriguez and Janet Harrison.
If you are a member of Division 236, contact your steward to learn about next year's application process.

AFT offers $8,000 scholarships
Surely no one appreciates the value of education more than teachers, and PEF's affiliate the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) demonstrates that respect through its Robert G. Porter Scholarship program.

Children of PEF members can compete for four $8,000 Robert G. Porter Scholarships.
These four-year scholarships are awarded to college-bound, graduating high-school seniors. AFT also offers 20 one-time, $1,000 continuing-education grants for AFT/PEF members.
Robert G. Porter Scholars

Porter Scholars are selected on the basis of scholastic achievement, test scores, extra-curricular activities, an essay and letters of recommendation.

For an application and rules, write to:
Porter Scholars
555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001-2079
Or visit AFT online at www.aft.org/scholarship.
Winners are notified in the summer.

R. G. Porter one-time grants
Applicants for the one-time grants must be an AFT (PEF) member for at least one year, and taking courses in labor relations or subjects related to their work.

Applicants must submit a 350-word essay on how they would use the grant. And they will need a letter of support from PEF President Roger Benson or his designee. See directions above for obtaining an application form and rules.Winners are notified in the summer.

Looking for serious help paying for college? Check out SEIU
Whether its you or your children who need help paying for college, PEF affiliate the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has a program to help.
SEIU offers several grants to its members (including PEF members) who continue their undergraduate education.

It also awards several four-year college scholarships to eligible members or their children in the U.S. and Canada.

However, SEIU is in the process of revising these two programs. Amounts of the grants and scholarships may change from previous years.

In addition, the rules and application requirements may also change for these programs.
SEIU hopes to have these revisions in place as early as December '99.
Call 1-800-846-1561 for updated scholarship information and to request application forms.

Or write to SEIU at:
SEIU Scholarship Committee
1313 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005

SEIU-Long Island University
This is one program SEIU is not changing. If you want to attend LIU in Brooklyn, this is a great deal - full tuition for four years. Three of these merit-based scholarships are awarded every year to three SEIU members or their children who are enrolled as full-time students at Long Island University, Brooklyn.

Application forms and rules are available from:
Allan Chavez, Dean of Admissions
Long Island University
One University Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Be sure to specify you want the SEIU/LIU Scholarship application.
Winners are announced in July.

Union Plus has scholarships worth up to $4,000
Applications for the year 2000 Union Plus Credit Card Scholarship Program are now available online and through the mail.

You do not have to be a Union Plus cardholder to apply. But you do have to be a union member or the child of one.
These awards, which were formerly called Union Privilege scholarships, will again provide more than $200,000 in scholarships ranging from $500 to $4,000.

For information and applications online, go to
http://www.unionpriv.org

To receive an application through the mail, send a postcard with your name, address, telephone number and international union name (SEIU or AFT for PEF members) clearly printed on it to Union Plus Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800. You must apply by Jan. 31, 2000.

Completed and signed applications must be mailed to the above address. It is not possible to electronically submit applications. Award recipients' names will be announced May 31, 2000.

NYS AFL-CIO will help educate future labor leader
The state AFL-CIO is another good place for your child to look for help paying for college if he or she wants to become a labor leader.

The NYS Federation offers a scholarship of $8,000, paid over four years, to an affiliate member's child pursuing a degree in labor relations or a related subject.

The winner is chosen on the basis of academic merit and an essay on a labor issue. Finalists are interviewed. Applicants must be:
- A 2000 high school graduate; and
- The child or ward of a member of PEF or other union affiliated with the state AFL-CIO (PEF is AFT/SEIU Local 4053). For an application (available in Feb.) and rules call 212-777-6040.

Completed applications must be submitted with required documentation and essay by May 5. Winners will be notified in early summer.
Ask your PEF steward about scholarships your PEF division or region may offer.

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