Congratulations, 2017 Union Plus Scholarship Winners!

Congratulations to all recipients of the 2017 Union Plus Scholarship!

Sam Fountain, SHARE Member
and 2017 Scholarship Winner

We're particularly excited for Sam Fountain, a SHARE member and Research Technician right here at UMass Medical School, who will receive a $1,000 award from the AFL-CIO sponsored organization.

Sam says: I'm humbled and honored to be a recipient of a 2017 Union PLUS Scholarship Award. For the past 18 months, I've been a member of the SHARE Union, working as a Research Technician for Dr. Sanjay and Dr. Peter Rice. I'm beginning medical school here at UMass in the fall of 2017, and will use the scholarship to pay for books and other educational supplies I'll need. The cost of medical school is steep, and every penny counts. For decades my family has been benefiting from and advocating for Unionized Labor, and I'm grateful to continue this trend. Thank you to the SHARE Union for all the work you do and for advocating for workers across the University!

Union Plus scholarships totaling $150,000 were awarded this year to 106 students representing 31 unions. Danielle Boudrow, a member of HUCTW, our sister union at Harvard University, also received a $1,000 scholarship.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2018 Union Plus Scholarships.

2018 Union Plus Scholarship

The Union Plus Education Foundation is now receiving applications for their 2018 Scholarship Program. The awards range from $500 to $4,000.

The application deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2018.

This is a competitive scholarship, and applicants are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.

Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. The Scholarship Program is open to current and retired members of unions participating in any Union Plus program (e.g., AFSCME), their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations). At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant's spouse or parent (if applicant is a dependent). The one year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31, 2018. Previous applicants may re-apply.

The applicant must be accepted into a U.S. accredited college or university, community college, technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Awards must be used for the 2018 - 2019 school year. You do not have to purchase any Union Plus product or participate in any Union Plus program to be eligible.

Applicants should note that the application requires you to list the national or international union name, local union number, local union's address, phone number and the name of the local union President or Business Manager.  You need this information for your union, your spouse's union or your parent's union (if you are a dependent).  If you or your family members are affiliated with multiple unions you must list this information for all.

As a member of SHARE, you are also a member of our parent organization, AFSCME, a qualifying union. Please note that the “local number” for SHARE on the School-side is AFSCME Local 4000. The SHARE School-side president is Kathy Bateman.

For more details, and to access the online application dashboard, please see the Union Plus Scholarship website.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe, fun, and festive 4th of July!