Union Plus Scholarship

Awarded annually to AFSCME members and their families

Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program, sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, has awarded more than $5.9 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education. More than 4,200 families have benefited from our commitment to higher education.

How to Apply

Visit the Union Plus site for more information and to apply online.

2025 Winners

Read the 2025 Union Plus Scholarship press release.

  • Lillian Adey of West Seneca, New York. Adey, whose mother, Melanie Adey, is a member of AFSCME Council 66, Local 2567, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Matthew Alstad of Cohasset, Minnesota. Alstad, who is a member of AFSCME Council 65, Local 580, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
  • Zizy Alvarado of Richmond Hill, New York. Alvarado, who is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 372, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Aggie Burstein of Olympia, Washington. Burstein, who is a member of AFSCME Council 2, Local 3758, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • BellaRose Clarke of Brooklyn, New York. Clarke, whose mother, Christine Richards, is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 2627, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Lori Ann Concepcion of Honolulu. Concepcion, who is a member of AFSCME Local 928, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Stephen Robert D’Alessio of Arlington, Virginia. D’Alessio, who is a member of AFSCME Council 20, Local 3719, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Emily Guzowski of Merrick, New York. Guzowski, whose mother, Melissa Guzowski, is a member of Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000 Sub Unit 865, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Cole Hofstad of Royalton, Minnesota. Hofstad, whose mother, Dawn Hofstad, is a member of AFSCME Council 65, Local 2564, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Joanna K. Janik of Harriman, New York. Janik, who is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Sub Unit 836, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Makenzie Noelle Jordan of San Lorenzo, California. Jordan, whose mother, Marisa Jordan, is a member of AFSCME Council 57, Local 829, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Natalia Mariela King of Tustin, California. King, whose father, Peter King, is a member of AFSCME Council 36, Local 2002, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Kaydence Lyn Knutson of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Knutson, whose mother, Deborah Knutson, is a member of AFSCME Council 5, Local 735, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Veronica Destiny Kowalewski of Tully, New York. Kowalewski, whose father, Patrick Kowalewski, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local Sub Unit 528, has been awarded a $500 scholarship. Veronica was a 2023 Union Plus Scholarship recipient.
  • Ferlin Llanto Lamoste of Wahiawa, Hawai`i. Lamoste, who is a member of Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA)/AFSCME Local 152, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Nevaeh Precious Lofton of Baltimore. Lofton, whose father, Craig Lofton, is a member of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, Local 227, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Sawyer William Lusby of Mount Vernon, Illinois. Lusby, whose mother, Leeann Cockrum, is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 1048, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Madison Marker of Flushing, Michigan. Marker, whose mother, Jennifer Marker, is a member of AFSCME Michigan Organizing Committee 925, Local 875, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Mary McLinden of West Chester, Ohio. McLinden, whose father, Peter McLinden, is a member of AFSCME Council 8, Local 3396, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Lois Gayole Monroe of Cable, Ohio. Monroe, who is a member of Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE)/AFSCME Local 4 Sub Unit 693, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Aicha Pitroipa of Bronx, New York. Pitroipa, who is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 420, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Nicholas Rey Rota of Medford, New York. Rota, whose mother, Christine Rota, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000 Sub Unit 614, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Alysse Scott of Hamilton, Ohio. Scott, whose mother, Yvette Scott, is a member of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4 Sub Unit 727, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Kavya Shah of Laurel, Maryland. Shah, whose mother, Mittal Shah, is a member of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, Local 1072, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Ryan Robert Sherry of Roaming Shores, Ohio. Sherry, whose mother, Edna Sherry, is a member of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4 Sub Unit 419, has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship.
  • Ethan Skalski of West Seneca, New York. Skalski, whose mother, Tracy Skalski, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000 Sub Unit 815, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
  • Jordanna Takaki of Hilo, Hawai`i. Takaki, whose mother, Kori Takaki, is a member of HGEA/AFSCME Local 152 Sub Unit 6, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Jordanna was a 2023 Union Plus Scholarship recipient. 

Eligibility for Scholarships

Current and retiree members of unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (including foster children, step children, and any other child for whom the individual member provides greater than 50% of his or her support) can apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. (Participating union members from Puerto Rico, Canada, Guam and Virgin Islands and U.S. citizens are eligible.) Members do not have to purchase any Union Plus program product or participate in any Union Plus programs to apply for the scholarships and scholarship awards are not based upon participation in a Union Plus program.

The individual must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Note: Graduate students are now eligible.

Evaluation Criteria

The scholarship program is open to students attending or planning to attend a college or university, a community college, or a technical college or trade school. Applicants for scholarships are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

Scholarship applications are judged by a committee of impartial post secondary educators.

Scholarship Award Amounts

The amount of the award ranges from $500 - $4,000. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for study beginning in the fall of the same year.