For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Ten AFSCME Family Members Winners of Union Plus Scholarships
$150,000 Awarded to 120 Students Representing 40 AFL-CIO Unions
Washington —Ten AFSCME members and AFSCME family members have been selected to receive 2005 Union Plus scholarship awards. They are among 120 students from 40 AFL-CIO unions who have been awarded $150,000 in scholarships from the Union Plus Scholarship program.
The AFSCME award winners include: Mariel Rose Boyarsky (daughter of Steven Boyarsky of New City, NY, and Local 2627, $1,000), Zakiya Carter (of Philadelphia, PA, and Local 2548, $4,000) Nicholas Olszyk (son of Teresa Danovich of Orange, CA, and Local 3336, $1,000), Joseph Pasqualichio (son of Michael and Debra Pasqualichio of Grand Island, NY, and Local 1000, $1,000), Arpan Patel (son of Himanshu Patel of Avenel, NJ, and Local 375, $2,500), Danielle Tatsuno (daughter of Mary Tatsuno of Captain Cook, HI, and Local 152, $1,000), Elina Tetelbaum (daughter of Anna Kshondzer of Forest Hills, NY, and Local 1070, $1,000), Corey Fusco (son of Linda Fusco of Hamburg, NY, and Local 1095, $500), Patricia Nelson (of Peebles, OH, and Local 3093, $500), and Olga Ramirez (of Burien, WA, and Local 1488, $750).
Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship program has awarded more than $2 million to union members or members of their families who want to begin or continue their secondary education. More than 1,300 families have benefited from the commitment of unions to higher education.
The Union Plus Scholarship awards are presented annually. The program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation with funding provided by HSBC, issuer of the Union Plus Credit Card.
Rising Costs, Increased Needs
For years, policy makers and economists have described how higher education increasingly is critical to American workers and to the competitiveness of the U.S. economy. The union movement has been at the forefront of providing such opportunities for working-class college students.
Today, these opportunities are threatened by skyrocketing college tuition costs, cuts in federally funded college grants and scholarships and increasing loan burdens. Union support through scholarships and grants is more vital than ever to working families.
"Our members and their families are faced with expanding financial challenges and the rising costs of higher education," says Leslie Tolf, president of Union Privilege. "Our support, which recognizes the realities of balancing career and family, provides individuals from working families with needed assistance. We are proud to sponsor the Union Plus scholarship program and help men and women in the labor movement realize their dreams for a higher education."
One exemplary scholarship winner is AFSCME member Zakiya Carter of Philadelphia, PA.
Zakiya Carter's Dreams
Zakiya, 31, a clerk typist for the state of Pennsylvania and Local 2548 member since December 2003, says she is answering the call of Samuel Gompers, the first president of the American Federation of Labor President, for 'more opportunities to cultivate our better nature.'
A mother of two children, Zakiya is returning to school to "pursue a lifetime interest in science and technology by seeking a bachelor's degree in engineering at Drexel University."
"By going back to school, I have taken the responsibility for what I do with the rest of my life from this moment on," she says. "I'm taking a huge risk in giving up everything that I am to become exactly what I want to be — a scientist, researcher and engineer who will develop clean, efficient solar energy.
"I'm teaching my children not to set limits on what you can do based on your age, financial situation or what others believe you are capable of, but to pursue your dreams with passion, conviction and persistence instead."
A Challenging Process
The students selected for awards come from diverse backgrounds and union affiliations and have varied goals and accomplishments. Representatives from the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the United Negro College Fund judged the applications.
According to the judges, the caliber of students this year made the selection process very challenging. Students earned top SAT scores, were well-rounded in their studies and extracurricular activities and showed an understanding of the value of working families and union membership.
How the Scholarship Program Works
In addition to demonstrated academic ability, applicants submitted essays of no more than 500 words describing their career goals, detailing their relationship with the union movement and explaining why they are deserving of a union scholarship.
The program is open to members of unions that participate in any Union Plus program, their spouses and dependent children. Individuals must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Members do not have to purchase any Union Plus program product or participate in any Union Plus program to apply.
2006 Applications
Applications for the 2006 awards will be available in September 2005. To download the application from the AFSCME website at that time, visit www.afscme.org/about/aa-scho.htm. Or, send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and international union name to: Union Plus Education Foundation, c/o Union Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, D.C. 20043-4800.
The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2006. Recipients' names for the 2006 program will be announced May 31, 2006. However, due to the high volume of applications, only winners will receive notification.
