2009 BLET Scholarship Directory
CLEVELAND, January 30 — Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. More than a dozen financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2009 BLET Scholarship Directory.
The scholarship opportunities vary widely. The following comprehensive list provides members with contact information for each scholarship opportunity. The BLET National Division does not maintain its own scholarship program, so members are advised to contact the individual scholarship providers listed below for additional information.
Those aware of additional scholarship opportunities not included in this Directory are urged to contact the BLET Public Relations Department at: Bentley@ble-t.org.
(BLET Editor’s Note: Eligibility for regional meeting scholarships is determined by the location of the BLET Division a member belongs to. For example, if an applicant lives in Kentucky but the BLET member belongs to a division in Ohio, then the applicant is eligible to apply for an Eastern Union Meeting Association scholarship.)
The 2008 BLET Scholarship Directory is as follows:
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James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund
The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund awards scholarships annually to outstanding high school seniors, and 100 scholarships will be awarded during the upcoming 2009-2010 school year.
Applicants compete in one of the five geographic regions where the Teamster parent/grandparent’s Local Union is located. The Teamsters will award 31 scholarships that total $10,000 each ($2,500 a year over four years) and an additional 69 awards that are one-time grants of $1,000 each.
For the last few years, the children and grandchildren of BLET members have been eligible to apply for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship following the merger of the BLET with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In fact, several children of BLET members have won the $10,000 scholarship.
This year’s program is open to high school seniors graduating in 2009, who plan to attend a four-year college in the fall of 2009. The applicant should:
• Rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class; and
• Have, or expect to have, excellent SAT or ACT scores.
The applicant must be a son, daughter or grandchild of a Teamster member who has been in good standing during the 12 consecutive months preceding the application deadline of March 31, 2009. Furthermore, the Teamster member must not have been a full-time elected officer during the 12 months preceding the application deadline date of March 31, 2009.
Due to the highly competitive nature of the program and the large number of applicants, students should carefully consider these criteria before submitting an application.
Applications are available from all IBT and GCC Local Unions, the BLET National Division website and BMWED System Federations.
Applications must be received by the Scholarship Fund by March 31, 2009.
For more details, please contact:
James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund
IBT Headquarters
25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 624-8735
Teamsters online scholarship info:
http://www.teamster.org/content/scholarships
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Midwest Rail Craft Scholarship Fund (MWRCSF)
Thanks to the generosity and hard work of many people, including its Board of Directors, the Midwest Rail Craft Scholarship Foundation (MWRCSF) is able to help several children of railroaders each year with their educational expenses. Scholarships from the MWRCSF are available to children of railroads from all crafts and union affiliations
The Foundation, founded in 2004, is led by a diverse Board of Directors representing several different railroads and labor unions. The Foundation’s mission “is to collectively use the generous resources of many to ensure the further education of those blessed with knowledge, but burdened with need. In addition, we strive to unite all railroads/railroad crafts throughout the Midwest in a valiant effort to give of their time and resources so the future of our children will be bright and productive.”
In 2008, the MWRCSF awarded scholarships in amounts ranging from $500 and $1,000 to 28 students connected to the various railroad crafts and locations throughout the Midwest.
“We felt that the support we had seen, especially in the Midwest, prompted us to ensure that the children of all railroad crafts and backgrounds be rewarded,” said Greg Shy, President of MWRCSF. “We have become incorporated in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. Our objective is to concentrate the scholarship applicants geographically in correspondence to the enormous support we have had from railroad workers in these states.
“We also have enlisted the aid of rail management and all labor from Midwest railroads to ensure that all crafts are represented. This is a great opportunity for those railroad families in need of financial support for the higher education of their children.”
The vast majority of the monies acquired for these scholarships comes from annual golf tournaments, contributions and sponsorships. The Foundation sponsors an annual Kansas City Golf Tourney, which will be held this summer. In addition, a second tourney is normally held at another location later in the summer. Dates and locations of the 2008 fund raisers will be announced at a later date. Updates will be provided on the MWRCSF website.
Please use the scholarship application on the MWRCSF website. Fill it out electronically, print it, attach the proper signatures and mail it to the address provided. The deadline for receiving applications is normally in June.
To download a copy of the application, and for other information about the MWRCSF, please visit: http://www.mwrcsf.org
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BLET Auxiliary offers 2009 scholarships and joint scholarships with EUMA, IWC
The BLET Auxiliary offers $1,000 scholarships annually to help the children of BLET and Auxiliary members realize their goals in life.
There are two very strict guidelines that must be met in order to be eligible for Auxiliary scholarships. First, the applicant must be a son or daughter of both an Auxiliary and BLET member (living or deceased), with each being a member for two years. Second, the applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited university, college or school of higher learning.
In addition to its own scholarships, the Auxiliary is administering one special scholarship for the Eastern Union Meeting Association (EUMA) and two for the International Western Convention (IWC) in 2009. Auxiliary membership is not a requirement to apply for these three special scholarships. If applicants are not awarded one of these scholarships and a parent is not a member of the Auxiliary, then they are not considered eligible for any Auxiliary scholarships.
The John Thomas Collins & Mary M. Collins Memorial Scholarship is for children of members participating in EUMA. This covers Divisions, Auxiliaries and Members-at-Large in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. Applicants for the Auxiliary-EUMA scholarship must have a parent participating in the EUMA.
The Auxiliary also offers a joint scholarship program for children of members participating in the IWC. This covers Divisions, Auxiliaries and Members-at-Large in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Applicants for the Auxiliary-IWC scholarship must have a parent participating in the IWC.
In order to continue to be eligible for the joint Auxiliary-IWC-EUMA scholarship beyond the first quarter and/or semester, the recipient must maintain satisfactory academic status. If the applicant is a graduate student or returning to school as a sophomore, junior or senior, he or she must have a 3.0 grade point average or better to be considered. The applicant must also be accepted to an accredited school. The deadline for all Auxiliary-administered scholarships (including joint EUMA and IWC scholarships) is April 1, 2009. Late applications will not be considered.
Auxiliary application forms are online at: http://www.bletauxiliary.net, or you can link from the BLET Website under “Departments.”
In addition to the application, the Auxiliary website provides scholarship applicants with more detailed instructions on the application process.
Mail completed forms to: Anita J. Caruso, National Secretary, 3341 S. 112th Street, Omaha, NE 68144-4709. For details, email Sister Caruso at: Bunziegia@cox.net.
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Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund
The Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund is pleased to provide opportunities for the sons and daughters of BR&CF members to participate in the Luther G. Smith Scholarship Program.
Children, including adopted and step-children, of BR&CF members who are in “Good and Regular Standing.” Applicants must be 27 years of age or younger. Applicants may be current high school students who have applied for admission as full-time students in accredited post-secondary schools or may be attending or enrolled as full-time students in accredited post-secondary schools.
International President J.M. Robb advises that 20 scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded every year.
BR&CF members with questions may contact Nita Saultz at (800) 233-7080. Members may obtain an application form by calling or writing to 2150 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or emailing brcf@brcf.org. The deadline for receipt of applications is March 2, 2009.
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Eastern Union Meeting Association (EUMA)
The Eastern Union Meeting Association awards several scholarship each year, ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,000, including memorial scholarships honoring the memories and accomplishments of Brothers Robert F. Donoghue, Robert W. Godwin and Robert Pentland. The scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and financial need. Only children of BLET members (living or deceased) belonging to divisions participating in the EUMA are eligible to apply. Division must be square on the books for the child to qualify. States represented in EUMA are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
The 2009 EUMA deadline is June 15, 2009. Send completed applications to:
Jim Louis, EUMA Sec.-Treas.
257 Forbes Ave.
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Applications are available on the BLET website:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/eumasch.pdf
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Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM)
The Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM) awards approximately two dozen scholarships annually based on academic achievement and financial need.
Applicants must be the child of an active, retired or deceased BLET member whose division belongs to the Southwestern Convention Meeting. Applicants must be accepted for admission to an accredited college, university or institution of higher learning. Only divisions belonging to the SWCM are eligible.
SWCM application forms can be filled out on your computer screen with the interactive PDF form available on the BLET website. Deadline is August 1, 2009. The 2009 convention begins on September 13. Divisions must have paid their annual SWCM convention dues for applicants from their Division to be eligible.
Click here to download interactive PDF application form:
http://www.ble-t.org/pdf/swcmapp.pdf
Click here for application instructions:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/swcmsch.asp
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Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA)
The Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) Scholarship Committee awards the Geiger-Brendle Scholarships each year to the children of active or retired BLET members whose divisions participate in the SMA.
Please check with your division secretary-treasurer to ensure that your division participates. In general, the SMA includes divisions located in states east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Ohio River and the Mason-Dixon Line. Also, Divisions must be current with their SMA dues in order for the applicant to be eligible.
The SMA scholarship application deadline varies from year to year, and winners are usually selected and announced at the SMA’s annual business meeting held during the convention. This year’s SMA will be June 7-11. Please see your division officers for an application or for more details. Applications are also on the BLET website at:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/smascholarship.pdf
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Our Brothers Keeper Foundation (OBKF)
Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, a new scholarship opportunity is available to family members of seriously injured railroad workers from the Our Brothers Keeper Foundation (OBKF).
OBKF is planning to award four $1,000 scholarships in 2009 to family members of seriously injured railroad workers. One winner will be awarded a scholarship from each of the four geographic regions represented by the BLET regional meetings — Eastern Union Meeting Association, Southeastern Meeting Association, International Western Convention, and Southwestern Convention Meeting.
OBKF is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that provides consultation, referral and financial assistance to aid employees of the railroad industry and their families in times of hardship arising from accidents and injuries that occur within the scope of the worker’s railroad employment.
In 2006, the last year for which complete statistics are available, Class I railroads reported almost 300 Category I & II casualties. These are on-the-job deaths or injuries so serious that they frequently result in permanent disabilities to railroad workers. These workers and their families are often left without the resources needed to cover everyday living expenses, much less provide tuition for family members who need, or would like, to further their education. OBKF is hoping to assist these families realize the goal of achieving higher education.
In terms of basic eligibility requirements, applicants must:
• Be a spouse, daughter or son of a seriously injured railroad worker;
• Complete all sections of the application form and mail it to the designated address, no less than thirty (30) days prior to starting date for the BLET Regional Meeting territory in which the injured worker is employed; and
• Provide all supporting documents required by the application form, including proof of enrollment in an accredited college, technical, or trade school.
Additional information is provided on the application form, which is available on the BLET’s web site.
The deadline for each scholarship is 30 days prior to the start of the BLET regional meetings:
• Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) begins June 7, and the OBKF deadline is May 7;
• Eastern Union Meeting Association (EUMA) begins July 5, and the OBKF deadline is June 5;
• International Western Convention (IWC) begins August 9, and the OBKF deadline is July 9; and
• Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM) begins September 13, and the OBKF deadline is August 13.
Since the majority of the support for OBKF’s outreach efforts currently comes from engineers and train service employees, family members of these crafts will be given preference. All scholarship applications will be carefully reviewed. Scholarship awards are to be based on need and fulfillment of applicant requirements.
A copy of the OBKF application form is available here:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/OBKFscholarship2008.pdf
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California State Legislative Board
The BLET’s California State Legislative Board offers a scholarship each year to a graduating senior who will attend college, trade or vocational school in the coming year.
The applicant’s parent or guardian must be a BLET member in good standing and in a Division represented by the California State Legislative Board.
Last year, the Board offered two $1,000 scholarships. Applications and deadline information are available on the Board’s website:
http://www.calslb.org
All applications should be mailed to the CSLB home office address:
California State Legislative
Board, BLET/IBT
610 Auburn Ravine Rd., Suite C
Auburn, CA 95603
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BLET Division 269
BLET Division 269 (Jamaica, Long Island, N.Y.) offers two $500 scholarships to the children of BLET members who are already enrolled in college. Participation is limited to members of Division 269 only.
Winners are picked at random at the division’s Christmas party. For details, watch your Division 269 newsletter or contact Division President Scott Decker at (516) 932-7130.
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BLET Division 57
Two $250 scholarships are available to children of BLET Division 57 members (Boston, Mass.).
The scholarships are awarded to college-bound high school seniors, and will be awarded based on their score on a labor history exam, administered by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, said Walter H. Nutter of Division 57.
By taking the exam, students also become eligible for eight more scholarships through the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. While the Division 57 scholarship is limited to children of that division’s members, the general AFL-CIO scholarship competition is open to children of all BLET members living in Massachusetts. This year’s test will be given on February 4. Members are advised to make preparations in fall 2009 if they wish to apply for the 2010 scholarship.
The scholarship forms and the labor history exam study guide are available on the Division 57 website. For details, email Brother Nutter, or visit the Massachusetts AFL-CIO website:
Email: whnutter@yahoo.com
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BLET Division 11
BLET Division 11 (New York, N.Y.) awards a one-time $500 scholarship annually to a child of any active member of Division 11 who pays local dues each month. Children who win are not eligible again. Deadline is June 1 and the winner will be announced at the June Division meeting. For details, contact Division 11 Sec.-Treas. Lorna K. Stevens at 1970 Veterans Hwy., Apt. C18, Levittown, PA 19056-2523, or email her at: STble11@comcast.net.
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RAIL CARRIER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Employees of BNSF Railway
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation Scholarship Program began accepting requests for applications on Jan. 1, 2009, and applications must be post marked by April 1, 2009.
The program will award 35 scholarships, $2,500 each, for the 2009-2010 academic school year. The program is available to current high school seniors who are the dependent sons, daughters or stepchildren of full-time BNSF employees or retired, disabled or deceased employees of BNSF or its predecessor companies. Full-time emloyees must have at least two years of service as of Jan. 1, 2008, and must still be employed by BNSF when winners are selected in April.
For details, visit www.bnsf.com or call BNSF at: (817) 352-1000.
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Employees of Norfolk Southern
Children of Norfolk Southern employees who are juniors in high school should apply for one of the four-year NS scholarships to be awarded in 2011.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation, an independent, nonprofit organization, administers the scholarship program. For detailed descriptions of these scholarships, go to the NMSC website. Competition for these scholarships is open to children of active, retired or deceased employees of NS and its participating affiliates. Applicants must be in their junior year of high school and plan to enter college in 2011.
To compete for a scholarship, a student must take the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2009.
Deadline to complete and submit the 2011 Norfolk Southern Scholarship Program Entry Form is early February of 2010. The application process utilizes a web-based brochure and entry form created by NMSC.
As the Norfolk Southern program runs on an earlier schedule than most scholarship programs, it is advised that current high school sophomores begin making preparations now to apply for 2011 NS scholarships.
Questions can be addressed to Norfolk Southern Corp., Scholarship Program Coordinator, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, Va., 23510, or to the Human Resources Help Desk at (800) 267-3313, or send an e-mail to nseducation@nscorp.com.
The amount of each NS scholarship is determined individually and can range from $1,000 to a maximum of $4,000 a year for up to four years of college study, or until baccalaureate degree requirements are completed, whichever comes first. The amount is determined by NMSC.
Friday, January 30, 2009
bentley@ble.org
