American Federation of Teachers Scholarships: Opportunities and Requirements
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) provides various scholarship and grant opportunities for its members and their dependents, aimed at supporting educational pursuits and fostering union values. These programs range from scholarships for graduating high school seniors to grants for AFT members seeking to further their education or implement union-strengthening ideas. Here's a detailed overview of the available scholarships and their respective requirements.
Robert G. Porter Scholars Program: High School Student Scholarships
To honor Robert G. Porter, the secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers from 1963 to 1991, the AFT awards four scholarships of $8,000 each to accomplished high school students. These scholarships recognize students who demonstrate outstanding service to their community and an understanding of the role unions can play in creating a more just society. Porter was a dedicated union activist who championed the rights of working people, promoted civil rights, and ensured that the union served as a vehicle for fostering the professionalism of its members.
Eligibility Criteria
The AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program for high school students is open to graduating high school seniors. To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- At least one parent or legal guardian must be an AFT member.
- The AFT member whose child or legal dependent applies for a scholarship must be a member in good standing for at least one year.
- Children or legal dependents of AFT national, state, or local union staff are not eligible for this scholarship opportunity.
Award Criteria and Disbursement
Awards are based on several factors, including:
- Academic achievement
- Commitment to community services and school-related activities
- Demonstration of leadership
- Work experience
- Recommendations
- Special talents and skills
- An essay
- A commitment to advancing the interests of working people and building unions
The $8,000 scholarship award is disbursed over a four- to six-year period, depending on the length of time the recipient will use to obtain a degree. Typically, the scholarship is paid out through four $2,000 annual payments to the recipient and/or the higher education institution attended by the recipient.
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The scholarship must be used within six years of the date the award is made. To continue receiving the scholarship after the first year, recipients are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, as reflected in the annual transcript required by the AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program. Additionally, the recipient must demonstrate continuing enrollment and satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Application and Notification Process
The AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program assembles education experts, labor leaders, and other experts to review the completed applications and select the recipients. Applicants are automatically notified upon completion of the application process, which serves as confirmation of receipt. All scholarship winners are notified by June 30.
Robert G. Porter Scholars Program: Member Grants
In addition to scholarships for students, the AFT also offers implementation grants to AFT members. These grants, also named in honor of Robert G. Porter, aim to support members in implementing ideas that strengthen their union and promote a more just society.
Eligibility Criteria
The AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program for AFT members is open to any AFT member in good standing who has been a member for at least one year. AFT teachers, healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs), higher education faculty, early childhood educators, and public employees are all welcome to submit applications. However, AFT national, state, and local union staff are not eligible to apply.
Award Criteria and Usage
Awards are based on the member's ideas for reclaiming the promise of a just society for all, as outlined in an essay and implementation strategy. The essay may include a statement of need, including the applicant's own professional development, but will primarily be judged on the member's ideas, the viability of the plan, and the member's commitment to advancing the opportunity for reclaiming the promise of a just society for all.
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The $1,000 one-time grant should be used within a reasonable amount of time to implement the proposal. If personal professional development is part of the proposal, the grant may be used to cover the costs associated with putting into practice the member's ideas for what must be done to reclaim the promise of a just society for all.
Application and Notification Process
The AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program brings together academics, labor leaders, and other experts to review the completed applications and select the recipients. Applicants are automatically notified upon completion of the application process.
AFT-Wisconsin Scholarships
AFT-Wisconsin has a long tradition of offering educational scholarships to support dependents of members in good standing who wish to pursue a secondary education. AFT-Wisconsin offers one $1,000 university scholarship and one $500 technical college scholarship. An additional $1,000 university scholarship is awarded in memory of Kathy Monaghan, a long time union member, activist, and leader in AFT-Wisconsin.
Eligibility for Scholarships
To be eligible for AFT-Wisconsin scholarships:
- Applicant's parent, grandparent or guardian must be a current AFT-Wisconsin member or a retiree in good standing of AFT-Wisconsin for more than one year.
- The individual must be accepted into an accredited college, university or technical college at the time the award is issued.
Preference is given to applicants with an expected high school graduation date. However, if scholarships are still available after these have been evaluated or if no current graduates apply, past graduates will be considered.
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AFT Local 1796 Scholarships
The American Federation of Teachers Local 1796 awards three $1,000 scholarships to WPU students:
- One Local 1796 Scholarship
- One Local 1796 Irwin Nack Scholarship
- One CNJSCL-Council of New Jersey State College Locals Scholarship
These scholarships are deposited into student accounts for payment toward tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year.
Eligibility Criteria
The criteria needed to be eligible for one of these scholarships are the following:
- G.P.A. of at least 3.0
- Membership in a union by the applicant or a member of their family
- The submission of an essay
Completed applications must be returned to the AFT Office on or before the specified deadline.
Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship
The Tom Mooney Memorial Scholarship honors the late OFT President Tom Mooney's legacy in public education and union work, and to help others pursue his passions for social justice and political action.
Additional Scholarship Resources
Beyond the specific AFT programs, several other resources are available to union members and their families:
- Union Plus Scholarship Program: Sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, this program is open to members, spouses, and dependent children of unions participating in any of the Union Plus programs. More information can be found on unionplus.org.
- Free Community College for OFT Members and Family: Eastern Gateway Community College in Ohio offers OFT members and their families enrollment in its online distance-learning program with no costs for tuition, fees, or e-texts.
- California Federation of Teachers Scholarships: The California Federation of Teachers offers $3000 and $1000 scholarships to high school seniors and continuing college students who are dependents of CFT members.
- AFL-CIO Scholarships: The AFL-CIO offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $4000 to union members, their spouses, and their dependents who are enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education. Scholarships are also available to graduate students. Additionally, the AFL-CIO awards a total of $25,000 to eligible members or staff employees of affiliated unions wanting to attend the National Labor College in Maryland or New Mexico.
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