BLET NEWS FLASH

2017 BLET Scholarship Directory

http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=5925

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, January 25 — Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2017 BLET Scholarship Directory.

The scholarship opportunities vary widely. The following comprehensive list provides members and their families with contact information for each scholarship program. The BLET National Division does not maintain its own scholarship program, so interested parties 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.

The 2017 BLET Scholarship Directory is as follows:

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James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund

The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for scholarship awards. The deadline for receipt of completed materials isMarch 31, 2017. In 2016, the Fund awarded $1.2 million in scholarships and has set $1.4 million as a goal for 2017.

Applicants must be a son, daughter, or financially dependent grandchild of a BLET member in good standing in order to be eligible to apply. Please see the link below for full eligibility requirements and to download the application along with other supporting materials.

Offered for the first time in 2017, the Fund has initiated a Training and Vocational Programs scholarship. Similar to the Academic Scholarship, applicants must be the son, daughter or financial dependent of a Teamster member (including BLET, BMWED and GCC members). The training and vocational programs must be related to work in a Teamster-represented industry, class or craft.

Scholarship applicants compete in one of the five geographic regions. One category of awards totals $10,000 each. These four-year scholarships are disbursed at the rate of $2,500 per year and are renewable annually. Other awards are one-time $1,000 grants. These scholarships are disbursed to the college or university at the beginning of the recipient’s freshman year.

Eligibility requirements and application procedures are the same for all awards. Recipients are selected by an impartial committee of university admissions and financial aid directors based on academic achievement, SAT/ACT scores, character, potential and financial need. The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, gender, disability, or any other legally protected status.

A full list of specific eligibility requirements and scholarship applications can be found on the Hoffa Scholarship website: http://www.jrhmsf.org. The deadline is usually March 31 each year.

If you need additional assistance, please contact:

James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund

25 Louisiana Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: (202) 624-8735

Email: scholarship@teamster.org.

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BLET Auxiliary Scholarship Program

The BLET Auxiliary Scholarship Program provides $1,000 scholarships to qualifying students who wish to pursue higher education. To apply for an Auxiliary Scholarship award, the applicant must be a son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter of a BLET Auxiliary member and a Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer and Trainmen member (living or deceased), with each being a member at least one year. In addition, applicant must be accepted for admission by an accredited university, college, or institute of higher learning. Children of an unmarried BLET member who has been an Associate Member of the BLET Auxiliary for at least one year are also eligible. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic record, leadership, character, and personal achievement.

Important: For high school seniors entering an institute of higher learning for the first time, a copy of ACT or SAT scores and a current copy of cumulative grade point average (GPA) must accompany the application. For graduate students or students returning to an institute of higher learning, a copy of last term’s (or most current) GPA must accompany the application. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is required for eligibility. Applications submitted without these documents will not be considered.

Completed applications must be received by BLET Auxiliary Secretary Helen Brand (hvbrand51@gmail.com) no later than April 1, 2017. Applications received after that date will not be considered.

Applications, instructions for scholarships, and mailing address for submission may be found on the Auxiliary website at http://www.bletauxiliary.net.

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California State Legislative Board

The BLET’s CSLB will award a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior attending a college/ trade/ vocational school in 2017. The applicant’s parent or guardian must be a member in good standing in a BLET division represented by CSLB.

Rules, applications and deadline information are available on the Board’s website, http://www.cslb.ws. The deadline is May 1, 2017.

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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Illinois State Legislative Board

The BLET’s Illinois State Legislative Board is currently accepting applications for its Don Little Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2013.

One $1,000 and two $500 scholarships will be awarded to applicants whose parent or guardian is a BLET member in good standing with a BLET Local Division represented by the Illinois State Legislative Board. Applicants must be 26 years of age or younger.

Brother Don Little was a locomotive engineer with Metra commuter rail in Chicago and a proud member of BLET Division 294 (Bensenville, Ill.) for 35 years. Brother Little served for more than 10 years on the Executive Committee of the Illinois State Legislative Board and always had a dream of establishing a scholarship program for the family members of fellow Brothers and Sisters who belonged to divisions chartered in Illinois. Unfortunately, Brother Little passed away before his dream was realized.

In 2013, Paul Piekarski (Chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board), Timothy Dunn (former Secretary-Treasurer of the Board), and several others helped make Brother Little’s dream a reality.

Scholarship applications and all accompanying documents must be received byMay 1, 2017. Specific eligibility requirements, detailed instructions and application forms are available for download from the BLET National Divisionwebsite (PDF).

For questions or assistance in completing the application, contact Joyce A. Piekarski, Administrative Secretary, at (630) 963-6099 orJoyce.Piekarski@gmail.com.

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Wyoming State Legislative Board

The BLET’s Wyoming State Legislative Board (WYSLB) is again offering a scholarship program for the upcoming school year. First offered for the 2014 academic year, the scholarship deadline for 2017 is June 1, 2017.

Wyoming State Legislative Board Chairman Cory Runion said the Board will award either two $1,000 scholarships, or, in the event of a single applicant, one $1,000 scholarship each year to an immediate family member of a BLET member in good standing and holding membership in a Division chartered within the state of Wyoming. The scholarships will be awarded based on the application, along with the requested documentation, by the WYSLB scholarship committee.

Scholarship applications and all accompanying documents must be received byJune 1 of each year. Specific eligibility requirements, detailed instructions and application forms (PDF) are available for download from the BLET National Division website (see below), or can be requested from your Division Legislative Representative. Currently, the BLET has nine Divisions chartered in Wyoming — Division 31 (Bill); Division 207 (Casper); Divisions 44, 103 and 115 (Cheyenne); Division 94 (Gillette); Division 869 (Greybull); Division 142 (Rawlins); and Division 624 (Sheridan).

For questions of assistance in completing the application please contact your Division Legislative Representative.

Information and application form available here (PDF).

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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’s mobile app or contact Division President John A. Kavanaugh Jr. at (631) 813-2234.

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BLET Division 622

BLET Division 622 (Alliance, Neb.) will award two $500 scholarships in 2017. Only the children of Division 622 members are eligible to apply. Scholarship winners will be chosen at random during a Division meeting in August. Applications must be received by July 31, 2017. For more specifics, please visit the Division 622 website (http://www.blet622.com) and click on “Scholarship.”

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BR&CF Scholarship Program

The Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) 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,” are eligible. 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.

The BR&CF’s 2017 scholarship program commenced on October 1, 2016, with applications due on March 1, 2017.

BR&CF members with questions may contact Linda Garber at (800) 233-7080. Members may obtain an application form by going to http://www.brcf.org and clicking on the Scholarship Application Request link under Electronic Forms, calling our toll free number noted above, or writing to 2150 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

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Union Plus Scholarships

Union Plus awarded approximately $150,000 in scholarships to 104 students in the 2016 Union Plus Scholarship Program. Individual awards ranged from $500 to $4,000. The deadline is January 31 each year.

Rising education costs are making it difficult for many union families to afford the cost of tuition. That’s one reason Union Plus, which provides important consumer benefits to union members and retirees, offers a unique scholarship program. It has distributed more than $4 million in scholarships to union members and their children over the past 23 years. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

The students selected for university, college, trade or technical school scholarships represent a wide sampling of backgrounds, union affiliations, goals and accomplishments. The selection process is very competitive since Union Plus receives over 5,000 applications each year. The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, supported in part by contributions from the provider of the Union Plus Credit Card. You do not need to be a Union Plus Credit Card holder to apply for this scholarship.

Visit the Union Plus website to learn more:

https://www.unionplus.org/scholarships.