Public Employee Press

Union scholarships support students' dreams

• How to apply for union scholarships

By JANE LaTOUR

“If there was a good news media outlet, they would be here today to report on the accomplishments of our scholarship recipients,” said District Council 37 Education Fund Administrator Barbara Kairson. In welcoming remarks, she said the union’s Sept. 21 Scholarship Dinner Dance celebrated a turning point for the students, who are poised between their already impressive achievements and the academic dreams they are pursuing.

Despite their youth, the scholarship recipients have worked hard on behalf of their communities and in the pursuit of their career dreams. Jessica Evans traces her desire to become a social worker directly to her high school day care work with children whose mothers were in jail. Now, her scholarship from DC 37 is helping to pay her tuition costs at Hofstra University.

Fathima Sahulhameed’s career dream of becoming a doctor is also connected to her vision for serving a broader community. “I’m doing a minor in International Studies,” said the second-year student at Rutgers University. “I want to work in the Third World and give something back to other people.”

In their scholarship essays, the students wrote about various forms of inequality that concern them. Jessica Evans described the impact of 9/11 on the lives of Muslims in America. She wrote: “If it didn’t affect me, then why bother getting involved? Then I realized, what if I was in that position?” Caitlin Travers, now at Carnegie Mellon University, plans to make a career in engineering. She wrote: “Engineering has traditionally been dominated by males; however, I refuse to allow these limitations to hinder me. Throughout my career, I hope that I can make the field more welcoming for females.”

Parental pride bubbled over throughout the event. Janice Kikuchi, a member of Local 436, the United Federation of Nurses and Epidemiologists, spoke about her son’s many accomplishments. Glenn Kiyoshi Lashley “has already excelled in Spanish and Latin. Now he’s studying Japanese. His strength and passion is composition,” she said. “In his scholarship essay, he wrote that the union has touched every facet of our lives,” said the beaming mother of the Harvard student.

Claudia Davis, a member of Housing Authority Clerical Employees Local 957, is another proud mother: “My daughter Jenelle was an A-plus student starting in nursery school. This is one more step to keep her going forward.” Jenelle Davis is now majoring in psychology at St. John’s University. Raphael Jean-Baptist is also attending St. John’s with a major in psychology and a minor in education. Mr. Jean-Baptist, the son of Rose Atherley, a member of Board of Education Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1251, said, “I’m excited and appreciative of receiving the money for my college tuition.”

Joan Reed, president of College Assistants Local 2054 and chair of the DC 37 Education Committee, concluded the event by encouraging all present to help the scholarship program grow: “Please get the word out — We want to see it grow every year. Encourage those who are eligible to apply for the scholarships.”

Caitlin Travers’s father Kevin summed up the experience for all who attended: “We’re very proud of our daughter and very grateful to the union for supporting our children’s educational pursuits.”

How to apply for union scholarships

AFSCME Family Scholarship
C/o AFSCME Education Department
1625 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
www.afscme.org/about/scholarf.htm
Deadline: December 31.

Union Plus Scholarship Program
www.afscme.org/about/aa-scho.htm
Call: 1-800-238-2539
Deadline: Jan. 31, 2004.

DC 37 Educational Scholarships
www.collegenet.com
www.fastweb.com
212-341-4999
Deadline: March 15, 2004.

Local Scholarships:
Contact your local concerning possible scholarships.