IBEW Members Receive Union Plus College Scholarships

January/February 2005 IBEW Journal

Three IBEW members were among 29 union activists who this year received scholarships provided by the Union Plus Education Foundation to attend the George Meany Center—National Labor College (GMC-NLC).

Ralph Anderson, IBEW Local 613, is an electrical instructor at Decker College in Atlanta. Winning the Union Plus scholarship encouraged him to pursue his goal of earning a B.A. He says, "The NLC program is superb. It has helped me to become well-informed on all types of union issues."

Wesley Urevig, a former IBEW Local 343 business manager, recently accepted the presidency of the building trades council serving the Rochester, Minnesota, area. He said, "my education at NLC will certainly give me a clear view of how I may best help the labor movement with the future challenges it will certainly face." With his wife and two sons enrolled in higher education programs, straining the family finances, he says, "the scholarship is a critical component to my educational success."

Francis Cunningham, Chicago IBEW Local 134, earned his B.A. at NLC this past June, winning special recognition for his senior research project. He says: "NLC reinforced my belief in unions."

The Union Plus scholarship is a component of Union Privilege, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986. Union Plus programs include free and discounted legal services, education services, discounted health care services, a home buying program, travel and recreation discounts and more.

For more information on Union Plus scholarships, visit www.unionplus.org/ scholarships. Information about the George Meany Center-National Labor College can be located at www.georgemeany.org.