For Immediate Release
Friday, March 04, 2005
AFSCME Local 2733 Member's Dream of a College Degree
Belleville, MI —Mary Parker-Croel, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25, Local 2733, has what it takes to make her dreams of earning a college degree a reality: intelligence, persistence, and determination. And now with the help of a scholarship provided by Union Plus, she is also getting help to make sure her education at the George Meany Center-National Labor College (GMC-NLC) stays on track.
Scholarship winners like Parker-Croel, receive cash awards as part of the Union Plus GMC-NLC Scholarship program, which is administered by the GMC-NLC.
"I had been paying for all of my classes on my own, which can be really difficult," said Parker-Croel. "Receiving the scholarship is a big help."
Parker-Croel is one of a growing number of union members from across the country who have discovered that their educational dreams can come true on the sprawling campus of the prestigious GMC-NLC, located in Silver Spring, MD. The students are as diverse as the unions they represent. However, they all have one thing in common: they realize an advanced degree cannot only help them personally, but can also be a boost to the labor movement.
"I'm a chief steward, so I really appreciate having the opportunity to talk to others about how they handle the grievance process," says Parker-Croel. "There's a kinship that you develop on the GMC-NLC campus."
"It's a great school. The students are helpful and the teachers go over and beyond the call of duty. I've been urging all my co-workers to go," said Parker Croel.
Parker-Croel, who is also a trustee on her union's pension board, expects to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor Studies within a year. She believes earning a college degree will help her both better serve her union and perform her job as a Vocational Job Coach.
Leslie Tolf, Union Privilege president, would like to see more union members pursue college degrees, though she recognizes that finances can be an impediment. "Higher education has become increasingly more difficult for working families to afford. That is why we are proud to sponsor the Union Plus GMC-NLC Scholarship program and help men and women in the labor movement achieve their dreams for a higher education," she says.
The GMC-NLC offers a unique program that is tailor-made for working men and women. The program allows students to attend classes at their own pace and utilize their work and union experiences in their studies. It also provides a learning assessment program that enables many students to obtain college credit for their relevant life and work experiences."
In addition to the BA program, the GMC-NLC, in partnership with the University of Baltimore, offers a Master's in Public Administration and a Master's of Arts in Legal and Ethical Studies. The GMC-NLC also offers certificate programs and individual program studies.
The George Meany Center-National Labor College, dates back to 1969, when the AFL-CIO, then under the direction of President George Meany, recognized that the labor movement needed to have its own college — a national center that would provide continuous labor education for all union activists. Today the 70 week-long labor studies programs promote education and training opportunities for union leadership and rank-and-file members. For details about The GMC-NLC, visit www.georgemeany.org.
