Union Plus Scholarship Winners Named
Twelve AFSCME members and their children were among 109 winners of the 1998 Union Plus Credit Card scholarship program. They were chosen from a pool of 7,000 applicants representing 37 AFL-CIO unions.
The AFSCME recipients are: Leanora Cuttonaro of Glendale, N.Y., daughter of Nicholas Cuttonaro, a member of Local 371 (D.C. 37), who won $3,000; Betyshia Watson of Diamond Bar, Calif., daughter of Waverly Watson, a member of Local 9905 (Council 36), $1,500; Bradley Sitko of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, son of Marie Sitko, a member of Local 213 (Council 86), $1,500; Amy Kolbinsky of Cincinnati, Ohio, a member of Local 1938 (Council 8), $1,250; Ian Parrish of Centralia, Ill., son of Joel Parrish, a member of Local 1048 (Council 31), $1,000; Quetrina Sims of Camp Hill, Pa., a member of Local 2063 (Council 90), $1,000; Veena Villivalam of Chicago, daughter of Raghavendra Villivalam, a member of Local 2946 (Council 31), $1,000; Carlos Del Valle of Cleveland, a member of Local 3360 (Council 8), $750; Amber Hendrickx of Fergus Falls, Minn., daughter of June Hendrickx, a member of Local 4001 (Council 6), $750; Julia Steva of Columbus, Ohio, a member of OCSEA/Local 11, $750; Jennifer Lumppio of Big Falls, Minn., daughter of John Lumppio, a member of Local 718 (Council 6), $500; and Michelle Merrow of Manchester, Conn., a member of Local 991 (Council 4), $500.
The 1998 Union Plus Credit Card Scholarship recipients are a diverse group, ranging from high school valedictorians to union activists, to immigrants looking for a better way of life.
However, the qualities the recipients all have in common include an outstanding academic track record and a commitment to Labor — factors that figured highly in determining who would be chosen.
Applicants were evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of the role of the Labor movement. Program judges included representatives from the United Negro College Fund, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges.
Currently in its seventh year and funded by Union Privilege, the Union Plus Credit Card Scholarship program has awarded more than $943,000 to deserving students. The program is open to members of participating unions, as well as to their sons, daughters and spouses, regardless of whether they carry a Union Plus Credit Card.
For an application for the 1999 program, please send a postcard, with return address and telephone contact information clearly printed on it, to Union Plus Credit Card Scholarship, P.O. Box 9389, Minneapolis, Minn. 55440-9389. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 1999; award recipients’ names will be announced May 31, 1999.
By Venida RaMar Marshall
