Union Plus

2022 Union Plus Scholarship Winners

The Union Plus Scholarship Program has provided over 30 years of higher education support for working families.

The Union Plus Scholarship program is an example of the U.S. labor movement's commitment to higher education.

Since 1991, Union Privilege, through the Union Plus Scholarship program, has helped fulfill the educational dreams of students representing more than 13 million working families across the nation.

The Union Plus Scholarship awards are presented annually to union members or members of their families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.

In 2022, 189 union members and union family members have been awarded $200,000 in scholarships, ranging from $500 to $4,000.

2022 Scholarship Winners

$4,000 Winners

  • Adrian M. Arciniega, LIUNA
  • Saachi Baldwa, CSEA
  • Jaden R. Barbier, AFT
  • Jessica A. Bourne, CWA
  • Amaya Z. Campbell, AFT
  • Benjamin J. Coyle, AFT
  • Samantha Curry, AFA-CWA
  • Sarah E. Lira, AFSCME
  • Megan S. Merhar, IATSE
  • Nicole Pullum, AFGE
  • Carson C. Robb, AFSCME
  • Janice Smith, UAW
  • Allie M. Stevens, IUE-CWA
  • Mallory Wagner, IBEW

$2,500 Winners

  • Leah Cavazos, UFCW
  • Kristi M. Guerriero, AFSCME
  • Michael Manns, IAFF
  • Esther Rodriguez, CSEA

$2,000 Winners

  • Janiya E. Bates, IBT
  • Raven L. Gladney, UFCW
  • Rachel G. Katkar, AFSCME
  • Harmony D. Osei, AFT
  • Kaitlyn J. Praisler, IUOE
  • Erin P. Robinson, SMART
  • Izaiah O. Ruiz, CSEA
  • Natalia I. Sanchez, UAW
  • Ava Tsapatsaris, UWUA
  • Alyssa Zamora, IBEW

$1,500 Winners

  • Camille N. Snell, CWA / SEIU
  • Sarah B. Solomon, AFA-CWA

$1,250 Winners

  • Daniel F. Padron, IUPA
  • Eric Pohl, AFGE

$1,000 Winners

  • Joyzel Acevedo, WGAE
  • Natalia A. Alzate, AFSCME
  • Tiffany N. Ashton, AFSCME
  • Katelyn C. Bale, SMART
  • Alexis Berg, USW
  • Connor Bichsel, BLET
  • Isabella B. Bolbecker, NALC
  • Tara Cantalupo, UWUA
  • Cindy Castro, OPEIU
  • Cameron B. Corwin, IAFF / NNU
  • Bradley J. Daly, IRONWORKERS
  • Emma R. Donato, IBEW
  • Victoria G. Drake, MEBA
  • Stephen M. Escochea, AFT
  • Czarina A. Evanow, CSEA
  • Maci K. Frommie, AFSCME
  • Maya A. Garcia, SMART
  • Ashton M. Guderyon, IBT
  • Kaila A. Gudinas-Castrucci, AFA-CWA
  • Kathy Haff, IRONWORKERS
  • Grayson Haskins, CWA
  • Patrick J. Hassett, IBEW
  • Cody Hawes, IBEW
  • Hunter H. Haynes, AFSCME
  • Grace A. Hecht, IUEC
  • Jenyse D. Hill, APWU
  • Emily Huff, USW
  • Kayla Hunter, TWU
  • Alexis M. Jackson, UFCW
  • Taylor J. Jeffrey, CWA
  • Paige Jegierski, IBT
  • Kinsley J. Kahl, IUOE
  • Samantha K. Kaltenbach, UFCW
  • Troy J. Karavias, AFT
  • Jacob Z. Karavias, AFT
  • Abbigail M. Kawatsky, IAFF
  • Heather R. Knowlton, NALC
  • Kaitlyn L. Kogl, ALPA
  • Hannah B. Kostka, CWA
  • Kennedy Kreger, BCTGM / AFGE
  • Amy Krystkowiak, CSEA
  • Alyssa Lapierre, NALC / AFT
  • Emilee T. Little, AFSCME
  • Emily R. Maners, IUOE
  • Ava R. Manier, AFT
  • Kayla R. Marold, AFSCME
  • Derek Martinez, APWU
  • Morgan L. McAndrew, IBEW
  • Brittney L. McGinnis, CSEA
  • Rebecca Millevoi, CWA
  • Gabrielle M. Mino, CSEA
  • Eria Minor, CWA
  • Susette R. Mireles, USW
  • Bradley Morris, IAFF
  • Zachary T. Palazzotto, SMART
  • Dane Palmer, IBEW
  • Brenan D. Pool, IBB / IBT
  • Kaitlyn R. Sack, IRONWORKERS
  • Emily P. Sanzone, NPMHU
  • Tamar Sella, AFM
  • Isabelle Shook, SAG-AFTRA / AFA-CWA
  • Savannah L. Talley, AFSCME
  • Rachel M. Wilczak, UFCW / TCU-IAM
  • April H. Williams, OPEIU

$550 Winners

  • Kathryn F. Levitt, OPEIU
  • Aliah McCord, AFT
  • Tanzania Merriweather, AFSCME
  • Kylee Murray, AFT
  • Kesiah M. Philpot, AFSCME
  • Gianna M. Pozzi, AFSCME
  • Jade Riley, UAW
  • Julie M. Schriver, IBEW
  • Alena G. Scott, AFSCME
  • Roberto A. Serrano, AFGE
  • Krish Shah, CWA
  • Parker Shaw, IBT
  • Elise P. Slaughter, AFSCME
  • Nellani S. Sullivan, AFSCME
  • Mia Brady Sweeney, AFT
  • Helen Tamrat, IBT
  • Kayleigh A. Taylor, AFT
  • Zachary R. Taylor, UFCW / USW
  • Daulton A. Templet, UFCW
  • Aster Y.F. Tseng, UA
  • Alyse C. Turk, IBEW
  • Isabel J. Valdez, UAW
  • Tyler C. Vath, AFT
  • Thomas K. Vellenga, CWA
  • Giovanni N. Verdi, AFSCME
  • Marissa N. Ward, SMART
  • Emily Wenke, AFT
  • Samantha M. West, UA
  • Chelsea M. Williams, HFIU
  • Porsha J. Wolfrum, UAW
  • Landon R. Wood, CWA
  • Brady A. Wood, AFGE
  • Ally G. Yeary, CWA

$500 Winners

  • Ivy Adams, AFA-CWA
  • Julianna F. Aguja, AFGE
  • Dalton Altimus, SMART
  • Alivia R. Ammons, UA
  • Jason P. Arruda, AFT
  • Meryl C. Barbere Sutton, UAW
  • Sage C. Bassi, AFT
  • Christian A. Baydaline, CSEA
  • Ethan D. Beightol, SMART
  • Connor W. Blackwell, IUEC
  • Caleb J. Blair, AFSCME
  • Kaitlyn P. Boykin, SEIU
  • Olivia Brown, AFSCME
  • Megan G. Cameron, AFT
  • Emma Carver, AFT
  • Cooper H. Choate, IATSE
  • Julia M. Chom, IBEW
  • Madeleine Cierski, AFT
  • Margaret Rose Clark, NALC
  • Grace R. Comer, IBEW
  • Michela Correale, NALC
  • Jenna J. Crowley, CWA
  • Kyle T. Daniel, LIUNA
  • Isabella S. Darcy, IBEW
  • Brittin M. Davison, LIUNA
  • Daniel Dein, AFT
  • Holly R. DiPalo, AFT
  • Kendra Ebinger, CSEA
  • Chloe K. Eiberger, IUE-CWA
  • Allison A. Enders, UA
  • Dianne Escalona, AFA-CWA
  • Kayla Fleming, UFCW
  • Gracie N. Freeman, UAW
  • Aidan M. Geisenheimer, CWA
  • Sydni Gephart, UFCW
  • Sofia L. Gonzalez, AFGE / AFT
  • Lily G. Grassel, USW
  • Kayleana G. Green, NALC / IBT / SEIU
  • Nathan M. Guy, NALC
  • Caitlin R. Hall, AFSCME
  • Maahum B. Hamayat, AFSCME
  • Isabella S. Hart, AFSCME
  • Blaine A. Hoover, OPEIU
  • Paul Irvine, UFCW
  • Lillian S. Jackson, USW / AFT
  • Katherine B. Johnson, UA
  • Laci N. Joseph, IBEW / AFSCME
  • Molly S. Killion, AFGE
  • Britney L. Kuhn, AFSCME
  • Ryan Lewis, AFSCME
  • McKenna F. Logan, BCTGM
  • Megan MacMillan, IBEW / AFT
  • Isabel C. Marable, UA
  • Tim Martin, SAG-AFTRA
  • Samantha N. Martinez, AFSCME
  • Avery E. McVicker, IAFF
  • Wayra I. Negron, IBEW
  • Briana A.H. Ortiz, IAFF
  • Abigail Peryea, AFT
  • Lindsay Tebeck, AFSCME
  • Rosalinda L. Vierra, CSEA
  • Taylor E. Wensel, AFGE
  • Blaine C. Zikuda, UAW

A diverse group of hardworking students

The students selected for awards represent a wide sampling of demographics, union affiliations, goals and accomplishments. Representatives from the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the United Negro College Fund judged the applications.

According to the judges, the caliber of students this year made the selection process very challenging. The students are from diverse backgrounds, and as a whole, they received top SAT scores, were well-rounded in their studies and extracurricular activities, and they understood the value of working families and union membership.

How the Scholarship Program works

In addition to demonstrated academic ability, applicants submitted essays describing their career goals, detailing their relationship with the labor movement, and explaining why they are deserving of a union scholarship.

The program is open to union members, their spouses and dependent children of unions that are participating in any Union Plus program. Individuals must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Members do not have to purchase any Union Plus program product or participate in any Union Plus program to apply.

The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.

Applications

Each year, the application deadline is January 31 and the chosen scholarship recipients' are notified by mail on May 31. All applicants are notified when the award winner list is posted in early June. 

The 2023 Application will be available in mid-June, 2022.