AFSCME Council 5 offers three scholarships; two for high school seniors just beginning their higher education, and one for members continuing their own education.

Richard E. Patterson Scholarship:  The Richard Patterson Scholarship was established in 1989 to honor the memory of the devoted union activist who was a leader of City of St. Paul Local 1842 and who was the first Treasurer of old AFSCME Council 14. The scholarship is designed to assist the children of Council 5 members who wish to attend an accredited post-secondary Minnesota or Wisconsin institution. An applicant’s parent or legal guardian must be a member in good standing of a local union represented by AFSCME MN Council 5. They must be a 2009 graduating high school senior planning to enter college in 2009. Winners will be selected by lot. Only one application per person is allowed. A winner and an alternate will be drawn by lot at the May, 2010 Chair Officers meeting. The $1,000 award will be presented at the 2010 AFSCME MN Council 5 Convention, October 2nd, in Bloomington, MN.

Clarence J. Moss Scholarship:  The Clarence J. Moss Scholarship was established in 1983 to honor the longtime activist union member from Local 1011. It is designed to assist the children of Council 5 members who will enter a Minnesota public institution of higher learning. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors, the child or dependent of an AFSCME MN Council 5 member in good standing, and planning to enter college in 2009. A typewritten 500-word essay on the theme, “What AFSCME MN Council 5 Means to Our Family”, must accompany the application. The winner will be chosen by a three-member panel. The $500 award will be presented at the 2010 AFSCME MN Council 5 Convention, October 2nd, in Bloomington, MN.

Robert Norberg Scholarship:  The Robert Norberg Scholarship was created to honor the memory and accomplishments of Bob Norberg, longtime AFSCME member and staff representative, who passed away in 1998. It is designed for use by adult members of Council 5 working to continue their education at Minnesota public institutions of higher learning. Applicants must be members in good standing of local unions represented by AFSCME MN Council 5, either: currently a member for at least six months, a member laid off within the last six months, a retired member, or a member on disability. Two (2) winners will be selected by lot, by the wife and children of Bob Norberg. Two $250 awards will be presented at the 2010 AFSCME MN Council 5 Convention, October 2nd, in Bloomington, MN.

If interested in applying for one of the scholarships offered, fill out and return the scholarship application form.

Other AFSCME Scholarships

Visit AFSCME International's scholarship page for information on other various scholarship programs available to AFSCME members and their families. The application periods and deadlines differ for each of these programs.

AFSCME Family Scholarship
Application Deadline: December 31 Scholarships are available to children and financially dependent grandchildren of AFSCME members. Under the program, 13 scholarships of $2,000 each are awarded in March to graduating high school seniors and can be renewed annually for a maximum of four years.

JERRY CLARK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
This scholarship was established in 1990 in honor of Jerry Clark, who was deeply committed to progressive social and economic ideals and who served for many years as AFSCME's Political Action Director. This in an on-going program available to children of AFSCME members who are interested in pursuing a career in political activism. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30 with the winner announced August 1.

PARISI SCHOLARSHIP FOR LABOR LEADERS
The Joey Parisi Memorial Scholarship has been developed to fit the needs of union leaders who want to earn a degree in labor studies, but who are unable to attend classes regularly in traditional colleges. An essay is required as part of the application process. The deadline for applications is October 31st of each year.

NADRA FLOYD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP & NATIONAL LABOR COLLEGE DEGREE PROGRAM
A dedicated trade unionist committed to her union, her family and the civil rights movement passed away in November 2001. To honor her memory, the Nadra Floyd Memorial Scholarship was established and continues today as a tribute to her legacy of commitment to the labor movement. Application deadline is December 1.

AFSCME/UNCF/Harvard University LWP Union Scholars Program
This is a new program for students of color that AFSCME launched in 2003 in parntership with the Harvard Labor and Worklife Program and the United Negro College Fund. The program gives college sophomores and juniors an opportunity to participate in a summer internship program with AFSCME as a way of learning more about the labor movement. Those who successfully complete the summer program are eligible for a scholarship for the following academic year from the UNCF. The long-term goal of the program is to develop entry-level staff for AFSCME from among the talented and motivated students of color. More information can be obtained by clicking the link above or by calling Phillip Allen at AFSCME International headquarters at 202-429-1025.

AFSCME Union Plus Scholarship Program
The Union Priviledge Scholarship Program provides annual awards up to $4,000 to help future leaders with the cost of continuing their education to pursue their union career goals and leadership skills.  Applicants, who may be union members, leaders or staff, will be asked to write an essay on how their leadership goals and aspirations will help strengthen the labor movement.  All applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2010.

Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship

The Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship Program is a program providing financial assistance to minority union members and their families who are pursuing an education at one of Minnesota's state colleges and universities.

The program honors Nellie Stone Johnson, a long-time member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees. The endowment is a permanent reminder of Johnson's contributions to civil rights, human rights, and the rights of workers.

Interested persons can find out more information about the scholarship program and download a copy of the application from the Nellie Stone Johnson website, or they can request a copy of the application from the MSUSA at (651) 224-1518. The deadline for application is May 1st of each year.

AFL-CIO Scholarships

The Minnesota AFL-CIO sponsors scholarships for high school seniors graduating in 2010. There are three requirements for the Minnesota AFL-CIO scholarships. To be eligible, you must:

Be a union member or a dependent of a union member whose local union is affiliated with the Minnesota AFL-CIO;
Have a straight "B" average or better;
Attend a post-secondary institution located within the state of Minnesota.

Entry deadline is April 30. Minnesota AFL-CIO scholarships currently available:

• David K. Roe Scholarship
• Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial Award
• Donald Pilla Memorial Award

Also available is the Martin Duffy Adult Learner Scholarship Award which is a $500 tuition scholarship for use at any accredited university, college or vocational school. Click here for more information and application forms.

AFL-CIO 2009 Labor Leadership Grants

The Minnesota AFL-CIO also has grants available for union members. The Tobey Lapakko Labor Leadership Grant is available to women who are union members in good standing; the Charles McKenna Leadership Grant is available to men who are union members in good standing.

Grants are available for members of affiliated unions seeking to develop their abilities and skills as union leaders. The grants help defray the cost of classes, programs or conferences sponsored or endorsed by the AFL-CIO or affiliated organizations. Click here for more information and application form.

Click here for information/application form for the AFL-CIO Community Service Awards for 2010.