Public Employee Press

Union scholarships help students achieve their dreams
COLLEGE BOUND

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

The DC 37 Education Committee handed out 19 scholarships to the hard-studying children of hardworking union parents Sept. 6 at their annual scholarship awards dinner at the union.

Committee Chair Shirley Williams welcomed the college-bound students, family members and local leaders at the event and congratulated the youths on their stellar academic achievements. Many of the students are the first in their families to attend college.

Leaders wanted

"We are all very proud of you, and we are honored to be able to give you a hand in completing your dream of a college education," said Williams, who is the president of Real Estate Employees Local 1219.

DC 37 Associate Director Henry Garrido addressed the students and encouraged them to consider working on behalf of the labor movement when they complete their studies."We need more labor leaders who understand the values of working people," said Garrido.

Dr. Barbara Kairson, director of the union's Education Dept., congratulated the parents of the students for supporting their children's academic dreams.

To date, the Education Committee has distributed $123,000 in scholarships to college-bound students from union families. "All these scholarships are made possible by the generous contributions from our locals, other unions and the DC 37 staff," said Williams. In addition, every spring the committee raises money with their annual jazz fundraiser.

One of the scholarship recipients was Yolandri Vargas, who is majoring in sociology at SUNY Purchase. Vargas came to the dinner with her mom, Virginia Salas, and aunt Leonor Herrera, who work as School Aides and are members of Local 372. "I'm fortunate to have the support of my mother and the union," said Vargas.

In addition to the scholarships awarded by the committee, Local 957 President Walthene Primus presented three scholarships to the children of local members and DC 37 Treasurer and Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin presented five.

Earlier this year, President Jackie Rowe-Adams presented two members' children with Local 299's scholarship awards, which are named for the late Father Mychal Judge, a member who died Sept. 11, 2001, as the World Trade Center collapsed. On Sept. 17, the Local 2054 Scholarship Committee presented the local's scholarships to top awardees Dana Smith and Alex Rosado and others. Smith had a 4.0 average at Borough of Manhattan Community College and is now at Lehman College.