AFSCME Family Scholarship Winners for 2007

April 11, 2007

Ben Brendler, one of this year’s 13 AFSCME Family Scholarship winners, knows first-hand how unions build strong families and communities. In the essay portion of his application, the 18-year-old Wisconsin resident noted that although both his parents work, he credits his mother’s union-represented job for his family’s “affordable health care, job security and a bright retirement.”

Ben also wrote, “Another benefit of being an AFSCME family is the satisfaction of knowing we’re making a difference in our city.”

Similar views are expressed in the essays of the 12 other winners – all children of active or retired AFSCME members. Each will receive a $2,000 scholarship for full-time course work toward a college degree, renewable for up to three more years.

The AFSCME Family Scholarship program was created in 1986 when the union celebrated its 50th anniversary. Each year the program provides scholarships to high school seniors to use for any field of study. Applicants for 2008 must be:

• a graduating high school senior in 2008.
• a daughter, son or financially dependent grandchild of an active or retired AFSCME member.
• applying to an accredited college or university, and subsequently be accepted as a full-time student in a four-year degree program.
   

Opening date to submit an application for the 2008 family scholarships is Aug. 1, 2007. They must be postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2007. Winners will be announced on March 31, 2008.

Click here for applications and further details, or call AFSCME’s Department of Education and Leadership Training at (202) 429-1256.

THE CLASS OF 2007

BEN BRENDLER, son of Kathy Brendler of Wisconsin Local 720 (Council 40).

QUANISHA BURNETT, niece of Fatima Walker of Michigan Local 3723 (Council 25).

SCHUYLER CASE, son of Travis Case of Missouri Local 3453 (Council 72).

RYAN DEAN, son of Carol Dean of New York Local 814 (CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000).

MATTHEW DUFFY, son of Stephen Duffy of Connecticut Local 714 (Council 4).

JOHN ERTL, son of Mary Ertl of Wisconsin Local 1941 (Council 24).

JACKIE FERGUSON, daughter of Carla Ferguson of Washington state Local 53 (Council 28).

DAVID GOULD, son of Peter Gould of Pennsylvania’s National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE)/AFSCME Local 1199C.

DANIQUA GOVANS, daughter of Danielle Clemons of New York Local 983 (DC 37).

CAITLIN MAUE, daughter of Tracy Lynn Maue of Illinois Local 943 (Council 31).

AIMEE MCCLORY, daughter of Emily Saura-McClory of Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52.

MELISSA MCCRACKEN, daughter of Angela McCracken of Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)/AFSCME Local 11.

LAURA STEEFEL-MOORE, daughter of James Moore of Minnesota Local 9 (Council 5).