Tag: union scholarship

Western Union Scholarships

Western Union scholarships come in only a few forms and are only available to people based on very specific criteria such as their family and HyVee scholarships.

western-union-scholarships
Western Union Scholarships

Western Union scholarships come in only a few forms and, while Western Union’s philanthropic giving spans many different categories, are only available to people based on very specific criteria. Though in the past Western Union Scholarships have been offered for many different purposes both nationally in the United States and around the world, their giving with regards to educational financial aid has decreased since 2006. Despite this there are still Western Union scholarships which students should be able to gain access to depending on what their lives are like and where exactly they fit in.

Three Western Union scholarships exist in the United States – their family scholarship, the Greater Washington Urban Leage scholarship, and a program offered through a company called HyVee. Each of these programs is fairly limited in who can apply whether it be targeted at immigrant families, employees of a company or restricted to a specific metro region. However those students who may find themselves eligible for the program are certainly encouraged to apply. Previous Western Union scholarships have existed with other organizations, but, in part because of the push into their family scholarship, many of these programs are now indefinitely closed.

The main, directly offered scholarship at Western Union is a family oriented program which targets immigrants and migrants in the United States. This program offers scholarships to two members of a single family either to help with tuition at school or other education related expenses. Western Union family scholarships do not exceed $5,000 per family winning an award, and the amount is divided between the two awardees, though not in equal amounts. Disbursed amounts are given depending on financial need. For instance if a family member is attending school full time and their brother or sister is simply taking English as a Second Language courses, the largest sum of the award will be given to the full time student. In order to be eligible for this program applicants will need to have resided in the US for at least seven years, have been born outside of the country and currently living in certain cities in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Washing DC or Florida. Citizenship is not required. All applicants will need to demonstrate financial need and submit the applications for both family members applying before April 21, 2011.

The Greater Washington Urban League offers Western Union scholarships in collaboration with Safeway Inc. Unfortunately the information on the Greater Washington Urban League website is out of date, but awards were given out in Washington DC as recently as March 17, 2011 so students will hopefully be reassured that the program is still on track. Every year the GWUL holds a gala event to raise money to ensure the program is available and, in 2011, the 39th annual gala was indeed held. This Western Union scholarship awards up to $3,000 to on average six different applicants. In order to be eligible applicants must have families who make less than $35,000 a year, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, be very active as a volunteer in the community and provide high school transcripts. Though the 2011 awards have been given out, interested applicants should contact Audrey Epperson in October 2011 to see if the program will be available again in 2012 and if the deadline will still be February 12.

In 2011 the HyVee Company partnered with Western Union to provide 80 $1,000 Western Union scholarships to high school seniors preparing to enroll in college. While there are no promises that the program will be available in 2012, interested applicants should stay tuned. In order to be eligible for this Western Union Scholarship a student will need to be a high school senior working for HyVee or be a child of a HyVee employee. All applicants must be enrolling in college for the first time. Under the same banner this scholarship from Western Union is also available for college students who are already enrolled in a university attending full time with at least sophomore standing. The annual deadline for this program is February 10.

James Hoffa Memorial Scholarship by the Teamsters

James Hoffa Scholarship was established as a memorial in honor of James R Hoffa who was the Teamsters president for (14) years. A Teamsters union scholarship.

James Hoffa Memorial Scholarship
James Hoffa Memorial Scholarship

If one of your parents is a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union, you may be eligible for the James Hoffa Scholarship. However, there are other requirements that must also be met, and even if you meet those requirements, you may still not be selected for this Hoffa Memorial scholarship, as there is stiff competition. This doesn’t, however mean that you shouldn’t apply if you are eligible. November through March 31st are when you can apply.

The Hoffa scholarship was established as a memorial in honor of James R Hoffa who was the Teamsters president for fourteen years. He began his Teamsters service in 1934 and was highly regarded in the Teamsters union as an acomplished leader who was known for his skillfull ability to carry out the Teamsters agenda.

The James Hoffa Scholarship has been available to the children of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union members since 1999. While the number of scholarships available each year varies, the average number available is about 100, and the applicants must live in one of the five regions where the union is located. Scholarship amounts total $10,000 or $1000. The $10,000 scholarship is paid out at $2500 per year, for four years, and the funds are paid directly to the college or university.

The requirements for the James Hoffa Memorial Scholarship sound simple enough – you must have a parent who is a member of the union, you must be in the top fifteen percent of your class, you must have great SAT or ACT scores, and you must have a financial need. However, there are other considerations that the committee that chooses the winners takes into account, such as the students overall character.

Students who win this Teamsters scholarship must attend a four year school in the United States or Canada, and the school must be accredited. The student may not attend a school that does not charge tuition. Military academies often do not charge any tuition. It is also important to note that if you win a $10,000 scholarship from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the scholarship will only be paid out annually if you meet ongoing criteria.

You must either meet the academic requirements of your school for Teamster scholarship winners, or maintain a 3.00 grade average to continue receiving the Hoffa scholarship funds. Furthermore, if your qualifying parent leaves the union, or fails to pay their union dues while you are still attending school, you will forfeit the Hoffa Memorial Scholarship. These things are verified each year during the four year period.

If you win the James Hoffa scholarship, and you are then unable to attend school, you must have certification from a doctor, and your Teamsters scholarship will be held for you – but not for more than a year. The only exception to this is if you are serving in the military, and you are unable to attend school due to your military obligations. In this case, the scholarship will be held for up to two years, unless there is war, in which case the union scholarship will be held for the winner serving his or her country for a longer period of time.

Although the competition for the James Hoffa Memorial Scholarship is stiff, if you meet the eligibility requirements, you should definitely apply. The application process is the same for both Teamsters scholarship awards – $10,000 and $1000 – and as you know, when it comes to paying for your education, or your child’s education, every little bit helps.


Other Memorial Scholarships