ALPA Family Members Awarded Scholarships
Union Plus recently awarded $150,000 in scholarships to
116 students representing 39 unions, including two winners representing the
Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), in the 2014 Union Plus Scholarship Program.
In this 23rd year of the program, more than 5,300 applications were received
from union members and families in all 50 states. This year’s ALPA winners are:
• Scott Gardner of Vacaville, Calif., whose mother Vera Tu is a member of UAL
ALPA Local Council 34, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
• Elizabeth Godfrey of Helotes, Tex., whose father Mark Godfrey is a member of
EGL ALPA Local Council 83, has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship.
“There are a lot of benefits to being a union member. Economic security is
number one, and education is the first building block. Education sets up our
kids for success, leadership, and happiness,” said Leslie Tolf, president of
Union Privilege, the organization behind Union Plus benefits and the scholarship
program. “By awarding these scholarships we level the playing field—everyone
deserves an equal shot at a quality education. We help union families feel just
a little more secure in embarking on successful lives.”
The 2014 ALPA Honorees
Scott Gardner
Scott has done it all in high school: from working several jobs, to excelling on
the varsity golf and soccer teams, to serving and leading with the Boy Scouts.
But while he’s kept his feet on the ground and achieved excellent grades, he’s
also kept his head in the stars: inspired by space and flight and the legacy of
being born into an Air Force and ALPA family. His goal is to achieve a degree in
business and pursue a career as an ALPA pilot, like his mother.
Elizabeth Godfrey
Elizabeth is the definition of a “high achiever”: valedictorian, musician,
scientist, and even a member of the Spanish Honor Society. She also has high
ideals, including a strong sense of justice instilled in her by her father and
ALPA. After her dad was wrongfully terminated, the family went through tough
times, but his union stood behind him and helped get him reinstated. Elizabeth
is studying bioengineering with her sights on a career in medicine.
About the Union Plus Scholarship Program
Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school, or recognized technical or trade school. Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded more than $3.6 million in educational funding to more than 2,400 union members, spouses, and dependent children.
In addition to the scholarships, Union Plus also offers the following benefits to help union families afford higher education:
• Discounts of 15 to 60 percent on college and graduate school test-preparation courses from The Princeton Review. Discounts are available for classroom, online, and private tutoring for the SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE, and MCAT, as well as college affordability and admissions online courses. Visit UnionPlus.org/CollegePrep or call 1-888-243-7737.
• Discounts on textbooks: Save 5% or more when you rent or buy textbooks. New, used, and digital textbooks are available. And, you get free shipping on orders over $59. Visit UnionPlus.org/Textbooks.
• College Counseling Discounts: Union families can save 15% on college counseling from Collegewise, the admission division of The Princeton Review. College counselors help high school student find, apply, and attend the correct college. Visit UnionPlus.org/CollegeCounsel for more information.
Union Plus is committed to helping union members and their families fund their college education. They have recently introduced two new programs to help members pay down their student loan debt:
• $500 Student Debt Eraser: Grants to help Union Plus credit card, mortgage, and insurance participants pay off their student loans. Visit UnionPlus.org/DebtEraser for more information.
• $20K Student Loan Giveaway: All union members can enter by August 15 to win up to $10,000 to pay off their student loans. Visit UnionPlus.org/Contest for more information.
Visit UnionPlus.org/Education for applications and benefit eligibility.