2025 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 2025, 193 union members and union family members have been awarded $250,000 in scholarships, ranging from $500 to $4,000.

2025 Scholarship Winners

$4,000 Winners

• Ayesha Abdiel, TCU-IAM 
• Matthew Alstad, AFSCME 
• Isabella E. Baluyot, AFT 
• Jocelyn Castellanos, BAC 
• Ashlynn D. Chavez, CSEA 
• Maddox Egart, UAW 
• Grace A. Ham, AFT 
• Michael A. Heninger, CSEA 
• LaBrina Hopkins, AFT 
• Katharine G. Kasperski, UNITE HERE / IFPTE 
• Ava P. Paulsen, IBT 
• Nicole Stasek, IBEW

$3,000 Winners

• Alvaro Hucker, NPMHU 
• William Irving, IAFF 
• Joseph J. Kinsella, CWA 
• Delia Pless, AFT 
• Ryan R. Sherry, AFSCME

$2,500 Winners

• Jordan M. Jerez, CWA (Isaiah’s Award) 
• Amanda J. Outen, AFT 
• Thomas S. Pagan, AFT

$2,000 Winners

• Laiyla L. Arroyo, AFGE
• Jack Baldwin, LIUNA
• Charlotte H. Balla, IBT
• Rashiek Barber, IUOE
• Heather G. Brammer, SMART
• Raquelle Brant, CWA
• Allison H. Bray, IBEW
• Aggie Burstein, AFSCME
• Joana Chai-Chang Azterbaum, UAW
• Kayla Clark, AFT
• Sydney L. Coleman, LIUNA / IUOE
• Lori Ann Concepcion, AFSCME
• Ashlyne Costin, IBEW / CWA
• Shane C. Devlin, AFT
• Kennin T. Featherngill, IBEW
• Cameron L. Gemme, UFCW
• Andy Hernandez Paulino, TWU
• Nicholas Hossinger, IBEW
• Steve Johnson, IUPA
• Jennifer A. Lovera, CSEA
• Nicholas R. Rota, AFSCME 
• Olivia A. M. Rubinstein, IATSE / SAG-AFTRA / AFT
• Shayna L. San Filippo, CSEA
• Kassidy M. Sturgill, APWU
• Angel Ward-Johnson, CSEA
• Katelyn L. Wynkoop, IBEW
• Aliza Young, IATSE
• Soraya M. Zepeda, CSEA

$1,500 Winners

• Zizy Alvarado, AFSCME 
• Paige A. Kramer, IBEW 
• Sofia J. Lanza, CWA Aiden Lo, AFT 
• Carter A. Mallinger, IAFF 
• Mary McLinden, AFSCME 
• Antionette Reams, AFGE 
• Robert T. Wolf, CSEA

$1,000 Winners

• Lillian Adey, AFSCME 
• Samantha Alaimo, AFGE 
• Charlie M. Alan, BMWED 
• Lucy P. Arevalo, SMART 
• Kianah Asoluka, OPEIU 
• Ava Lillian R. Beall, SAG-AFTRA / AFT 
• Peter Bejarano, AFT 
• Rebecca A. Bollinger, SMART 
• Halle Braaflat, IAM 
• Camryn G. Burgener, IBB 
• Haley C. Butenschoen, AFT 
• Makena Chase, CSEA 
• Arielle V. Chechile, IBEW 
• BellaRose Clarke, AFSCME 
• Charlotte Clyve, IATSE 
• Jason L. Contino, UAW 
• Alexander Corvo, IAFF / AFT 
• Adastra M. Cuiffo, NALC 
• Clare Cullagh, LIUNA 
• Stephen F. DiFilippo, AFT 
• Theodora Eleftheriadis, AFT 
• Jared V. Esquivel, CSEA 
• Raigan C. Flatten, BMWED 
• George Foy, IAFF 
• Kaden Frakes, IRONWORKERS 
• Nina J. Gavrilovic, OPEIU 
• Jacob A. Giammona, IBEW 
• Eliza J. Goodwin, UA 
• Emily Guin, NATCA 
• Emily Guzowski, IBEW / AFSCME 
• Karissa Hall, IBEW 
• Liam Hall, IBEW 
• Elle G. R. Hamilton, UAW 
• Garrett M. Haupt, IBEW 
• Mariah D. Havener, SEIU 
• Tracy Hayward, SMART 
• Abigail E. Heck, CWA 
• Haylie Heisler, IBEW 
• Robert W. Hodge, IBB 
• Cole Hofstad, AFSCME 
• Micah N. Hoover, IAM 
• Jocelyn I. Huber, AFT 
• Nathan T. Jegierski, IBT 
• Kyra L. Jespersen, BMWED 
• Natalie Jimenez, ILA 
• Shannon Klein, AFGE 
• Samantha Kostka, CWA 
• Ferlin L. Lamoste, AFSCME 
• Nevaeh P. Lofton, AFSCME 
• Spencer D. Lorenz, IBEW 
• Alyssa F. Loudon, IBEW 
• James Lukas, AFT 
• Megan E. Lynch, UA 
• Nathan E. Mabry, AFT 
• Madison Marker, AFSCME 
• Nikaya McComeskey, IUPAT 
• Addison N. McVicker, IAFF 
• Addison P. Meadows, AFT 
• Apiksha M. Mistry, CSEA 
• Lois G. Monroe, AFSCME 
• Jae-hyeok Moon, NALC 
• Stephanie Olguin, CSEA 
• Timothy M. Pinheiro, AFM 
• Adrianna Pizzuta, AFT 
• Timothy Powe, OPEIU 
• Graciela C. Rangel, CSEA 
• Nathan Riffe, UAW 
• Braden Rogers, IUOE 
• Lyla K. Sato, IUOE 
• Anthony J. Sawanec II, IAFF 
• Alysse Scott, AFSCME 
• Kavya Shah, AFSCME 
• Logan A. Smith, OPEIU 
• Jennifer J. Snyder, USW 
• Ethan J. Solury, IAFF 
• Isabella R. Soriano, SEIU 
• Raphael Stark, SAG-AFTRA / AFM 
• Leah A. Starr, UAW 
• Declan J. Steele, MEBA 
• Jordanna Takaki, AFSCME 
• Noah J. Templin, ALPA 
• Gianna Terrarosa, IBT 
• Donovan Timmerman, AFT 
• Isabella R. Trevino, SMART 
• Jenna Uthman, CWA 
• Zion A. T. Williams, UAW 
• Ava Yanez, CSEA 
• Brady D. Yip, SEIU / AFGE 
• Laila Zovich, CSEA

$500 Winners

• John R. Barnes, CSEA 
• Jackson B. Booker, IBEW 
• Sheridan G. Brown, USW 
• Katelyn A. Conley, IBT 
• Natalie Coon, IAFF 
• Charlotte G. Cunningham-Hackney, IUOE 
• Christina I. Dakis, AFT 
• Stephen R. D’Alessio, AFSCME 
• Madison A. DesPres, CWA 
• Stephen J. Devine, IAFF / AFT 
• Desiree M. Dilorio, USW 
• Kevin T. Gerike, AFGE 
• Reagan L. Hudnall, SMART 
• Joanna K. Janik, AFSCME 
• Jaeda R. Jefferson, USW 
• Natalee Johnson, UFCW 
• Baird Johnson, SAG-AFTRA 
• Payton A. Johnston, AFT 
• Makenzie N. Jordan, AFSCME 
• Ava N. Kemp, USW 
• Natalia M. King, AFSCME 
• Kaydence L. Knutson, AFSCME 
• Allie Kohl, IUOE 
• Veronica D. Kowalewski, AFSCME 
• Grayson D. Kuchar, SMART 
• Helena M. Lam, AFT 
• Ashlyn R. Lasley, UA 
• Brody S. Lausche, IBEW 
• Kai Hua Liu, UNITE HERE 
• Sawyer W. Lusby, AFSCME 
• Jeovanni D. Marini, AFGE 
• Randon Martin, IATSE 
• Kasper M. Matia, SEIU 
• Kylee M. McCracken, AFT 
• Eryn G. McLain, IUOE 
• Karen Mendoza, UFCW 
• Marisa Michi, IAFF / IBT / SEIU 
• Aicha Pitroipa, AFSCME 
• Zachary Rasmussen, IATSE 
• Adela G. Ruiz, CSEA 
• Haley A. Russom, AFT 
• Abigail N. Shaffer, IUOE 
• Ethan Skalski, UAW / AFSCME 
• Brice Skiff, SEIU 
• Bailey J. Smith, USW 
• Andrew L. Sotack, IATSE 
• Seth C. Walker, UFCW 
• Erin Walling, CWA

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 test 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 award recipients are notified by mail on May 31. All applicants are notified when the award winner list is posted in early June. 

The 2026 Application will be available in the summer of 2025.