Union Plus Scholarship

Awarded annually to AFSCME members and their families

Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $6.2 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education. More than 4,400 families have benefited from our commitment to higher education.

The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, supported in part by contributions from the provider of the  Union Plus Credit Card , the provider of the Union Plus Personal Loan, and providers of the Union Plus College Program.  (You do not need to participate in these programs to apply for this scholarship.)

How to Apply

more information & apply online

2026 Winners

2026 Union Plus Scholarship press release
  • Karyn Alston of New York City. Alston, who is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 768, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Leticia Izabelle Assuncao of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Assuncao, who is a member of AFSCME Council 94, Local 2886, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Olivia Megan Bate of Easton, Maine. Bate, whose mother, Kristie Bate, is a member of AFSCME Council 93, Local 2117, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Molly Ann Buesing of Kasota, Minnesota. Buesing, who is a member of AFSCME Council 5, Local 404, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Grace Maria Dennison of Wonder Lake, Illinois. Dennison, whose mother, Mary Dennison, is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 1748, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Ena C. Ferdinand of Richmond, California. Ferdinand, who is a member of AFSCME Council 57, Local 2019, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Joseph Yukio Fischer of Forest Hill, Maryland. Fischer, who is a member of AFSCME Council 3, Local 1459, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
  • Felicia Jade Garramone of Levittown, New York. Garramone, whose father, Thomas Garramone, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Sub Local 882, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Delina Ephrem Gebremichael of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Gebremichael, whose father, Ephrem Gebremichael, is a member of AFSCME Council 33, Local 394, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Jack Henry Landman of Plainview, New York. Landman, whose father, Michael Landman, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Sub Local 881, has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
  • Janeasa Lester of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Lester, whose mother, Lisa Lester, is a member of AFSCME Council 13, Local 1593, has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship.
  • Kayla MacDermott of Plainville, Massachusetts. MacDermott, who is a member of AFSCME/SHARE Local 3900, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Amanda Mavricos of Staten Island, New York. Mavricos, whose mother, Joanne Mavricos, is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 372, has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship. Amanda was a Union Plus Scholarship recipient in 2020 and 2021.
  • Nikki Mazlomi of Anaheim, California. Mazlomi, whose mother, Sanaz Fanaeian, is a member of AFSCME/UDW Local 3930, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Nina McQueeney of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. McQueeney, who is a member of AFSCME/SHARE Local 4000, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Jacob Mohring of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Mohring, whose father, Andrew Mohring, is a member of AFSCME Council 13, Local 2455, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Jacob was a Union Plus Scholarship recipient in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
  • Addisyn Marie Moore of Crownsville, Maryland. Moore, whose father, Robert Moore, is a member of AFSCME Council 3, Local 582, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Keith Thomas Morehead of Fairview Heights, Illinois. Morehead, who is a member of AFSCME Council 31, Local 1805, and whose spouse, Latrisha Morehead, is also a member of Local 1805, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Briona Parkinson of Laveen, Arizona. Parkinson, who is a member of AFSCME Local 6090, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Wondwosen Paulos of Everett, Washington. Paulos, who is a member of AFSCME Council 28, Local 304, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Angela Rockefeller of Germantown, New York. Rockefeller, who is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Sub Local 856, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
  • Sonia Rodriguez of Bronx, New York. Rodriguez, who is a member of AFSCME District Council 37, Local 1549, has been awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
  • Gabriella Rupert of West Seneca, New York. Rupert, whose mother, Cynthia Rupert, is a member of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Sub Local 868, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
  • Nasira Seals of Oakland, California. Seals, whose mother, Erica Seals, is a member of AFSCME Council 57, Local 3916, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.
  • Jessica Marie Sosnowski of Oakfield, New York. Sosnowski, whose parents, Howard Sosnowski and Christina Sosnowski, are members of CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000, Sub Local 819, has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship.
  • Andy Zhang of Anchorage, Alaska. Zhang, whose parents, Xinxian Zhang and Wei Cheng, are members of AFSCME/ASEA Local 52, has been awarded a $4,000 scholarship.

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.