Scholarship avenues available for union members By DEBORAH A. MILES Scholarships help make dreams come true for many students, who otherwise wouldn’t have the means to pay the soaring cost of college tuition. If you are a child of a union member, even more financial avenues are available. PEF launched its scholarship program in 1988 as a tribute to Joseph Scacalossi, a council leader at the state Department of Labor, who helped found PEF and fought hard for his members in Manhattan. PEF has given $859,000 to students since the inception of this scholarship. Every year, 10 students are each awarded $1,000 annually for four years. The student must be a child, stepchild or ward of any active, retired or deceased PEF member, and a high school senior or freshman in college. To apply for this scholarship, a student must submit a preliminary application found online at pef.org, or by mailing a paper form. It is due March 16. After the scholarship committee reviews the preliminary applications, eligible students will receive a final application that must be completed and returned to PEF headquarters by April 27. The committee is chaired by PEF Region 2 Coordinator Bonnie Wood, and includes Debi Chowdbury, Maureen Hogle, Linda Collins and Karen Roberts. It is staffed by Joanne Wright. Click to download mail-in form Service Employees International Union The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) offers PEF members six scholarship programs. One of the most popular is its lottery scholarship. Annually, SEIU awards 15 students $1,000, renewable for up to four years, and 33 students $1,500 as one-time grants. Applicants for the lottery scholarship must read the SEIU annual report, available at www.seiu.org, and then correctly answer all the questions on the SEIU scholarship program application form to qualify for a lottery drawing. The Moe Foner Scholarship is a $5,000 non-renewable scholarship available to students who are pursuing a degree or training in the visual or performing arts, and who believe the arts are a vehicle to advance social change. Foner founded the SEIU 1199 Bread and Roses Cultural Project and tapped into New York’s thriving artistic community while helping to make 1199 one of the most recognizable unions in the nation. If you want to apply for a Foner scholarship, submit an essay, not to exceed 200 words, describing what the labor movement means to you and your family. SEIU also offers a $5,000 Jesse Jackson Scholarship, renewable for up to four years, to a student whose work and aspirations for economic and social justice reflect the values and accomplishments of the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Another $5,000 scholarship to be expended over 24 months is the John Geagan Scholarship. It was created mainly for adults who have been in the workforce and have decided to return to college to pursue a degree in labor relations. The Nora Piore Scholarship is offered to SEIU members and their children who plan health care careers. It is a $4,375 scholarship renewable for up to four years. The SEIU website has more information about these scholarships. To apply, request the specific scholarship program by writing to Scholarship Programs Administrators Inc. (SPA), PO Box 23737, Nashville, TN 37202-3737 or call 615-320-3149. Applications for the SEIU scholarships must be submitted by March 1. SEIU also added two $2,500 scholarships to honor Bonnie Ladin, an SEIU organizer who played an integral part in building the union. She died in 2010 at the age of 59 after a long battle with cancer. You must attend the National Labor College to be eligible. Go to http://www.aim.applyists.net/bl for an application. American Federation of Teachers The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) scholarship programs are available to PEF and other AFT members. It has a scholarship program that awards 10 students one-time $1,000 grants. It also has a program offering a four-year $8,000 Robert G. Porter Scholarship to help with education costs. The scholarships are solely merit-based, centering on academic excellence. Volunteerism and activism at a school will help boost a students’ chance to win one of these. Students applying for a Porter Scholarship must be pursuing a career in labor relations, education, health care or government service. The application requires an essay and two letters of recommendation. Applications are available online at www.aft.org or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, AFT, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001. Applications must be received by March 31. Union Plus The Union Plus Scholarship Program provides $150,000 in scholarships to union members, their spouses and dependents. You do not have to participate in a Union Plus program to be eligible. If you apply for this scholarship, you must prove your academic ability. Even if you are a straight-A student, if you don’t follow the checklist, you may be eliminated. Applicants are required to include an essay of no more than 500 words describing career goals, detailing their relationships with the union movement, and explaining why they are deserving of a union scholarship. You must include a sealed letter of recommendation, and be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade-school at the time the award is issued.   Graduate school students are also eligible for Union Plus Scholarships. To download the application, visit www.UnionPlus.org/scholarships. Or, send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and international union to Union Plus Education Foundation, c/o Union Privilege, PO Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800. You must apply by January 31. Higher Education Services Corporation The state Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) provides free information about student financial aid for New Yorkers. It administers the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and a highly successful college savings program for students and families.   HESC publications and fact sheets, plus information on scholarships, awards, grants and loans are available online at www.hesc.com or call 888-697-4372 or 518-473-1547. Schools and PEF divisions In January, financial aid workshops are traditionally held throughout the state. To find out when and where a workshop is taking place in your area, check with a guidance counselor at your child’s school. Some PEF regions and divisions offer annual scholarships. Check with your regional coordinator or council leader for information.

The Communicator Letters policy We welcome letters to the editor about union issues and events relevant to PEF's diverse membership. All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness and good taste. Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or a maximum of 250 words), and please include your name and phone number for verification. Send letters to thecommunicator@pef.org: The Communicator Public Employees Federation P.O. Box 12414 Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414 Email to Sherry Halbrook, Editor or Darcy Wells, Editor-In Chief