1999 AFSCME Family Scholars
Pride in their union runs strong through the veins of AFSCME members, and they pass it down to their children. That was evident in the winning essays in the 1999 Family Scholarship Award program, on the theme “What AFSCME Has Meant to My Family.”
The 10 entries selected in the competition ranged from the poetic, comparing the union to a bird protecting its young, to the practical, recognizing that union-negotiated leave made it possible for a parent to be bedside at the hospital.
Each of the winners will receive a $2,000 scholarship which can be renewed up to four years for full-time course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university.
Deadline for next year’s program is Dec. 31, 1999. Interested members should request application forms now by contacting AFSCME’s Education Department, 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687 or (202) 429-1250. Applications can also be downloaded from the AFSCME Web site: www.afscme.org.
Here are excerpts from the winning essays:
Sara Bauer, daughter of Kathleen Bauer, WI Local 727 (Council 40): The poverty and unhappiness that nearly consumed my family has been banished by AFSCME. We are now able to enjoy the weekends together and celebrate the holidays as a family.
Shaumanique Bright, daughter of Jacqueline Johnson, MI Local 1640 (Council 25): AFSCME is here to help teach people that no matter who you are, we are all created equal and have the same opportunity as everyone else.
Piyali Chaudhuri, daughter of Prakas Chaudhuri, NY Local 375 (D.C. 37): He showed me letters from his union kindly addressed “Dear Sisters and Brothers.” As a young child, I was in awe of the union because of my father’s great respect for it. I pictured the union to be a great American bird like the bald eagle, which fought to protect its family from anything harmful.
Devin Dilley, son of Vivian Gerard, NY Local 832 (CSEA): My mother and I have been able to make the step up from our apartment to a real home, which can be attributed to my mother’s new job security. I can honestly thank AFSCME for what our family is able to enjoy today.
Monica Dupre, daughter of Bernadine Dupre, LA Local 27 (Council 17): Without the union, [my mother] would have been passed over for many jobs in her agency because she is a black woman. The union contract called for seniority and offered her the protection of the union in case she was passed over for a promotion.
Bryson Engelen, son of Karen Engelen-Dunton, IL Local 3236 (Council 31): Before my mother helped organize the clerical workers at Illinois State University, they were terribly undervalued. Even I knew this; I could see it in the way my mother was treated and heard it from her and her co-workers.
Sheila Manning, daughter of Magalene Manning, OH Local 4: My grandmother needed to take time off work in order to deal with the day-to-day situations that were arising. She was able to take the time she needed without worry of losing her job because of AFSCME.
Sarah McCloskey, daughter of Keith McCloskey, PA Local 78 (Council 13): The first day after my surgery I was in a lot of pain, nauseous, and could not eat. I slept most of the time, but when I woke up my dad was there. I now realize that because the union was there for him (by the use of family sick time) he could be there for me.
Matthew Muranaka, son of Kenneth Muranaka, HI Local 152 (HGEA): Before AFSCME, people like my grandfather had to quit school early and work in the plantation fields of early Hawaii in order to support their families. Our state was built upon labor, whether it be in the plantations or port towns.
Shammel Williams, son of Charles Williams, CT Local 1716 (Council 4): The union is trying to protect and provide for the security of my father, his family and the families of the other workers. This is one of the main responsibilities of a union.
