News

Congratulations to Elijah Sta Ana, WFSE Member’s Son and Winner of the 2026 AFSCME Family Scholarship!

WFSE Staff
Social share icons

Elijah, a student at Clover Park High School and child of WFSE Local 793 member Ellen Mae Sta Ana, has won the 2026 AFSCME Family Scholarship.

Elijah is one of ten recipients of this scholarship, which grants him $2,000 for up to four years as a full-time student.

Scholarship congratulations image for Elijah Sta Ana, son of Ellen Mae Sta Ana of Local 793

Did you know? As union members, you and your family are eligible for many scholarships that can be applied to continuing education, vocational school, college, and more.

For more information about scholarships, check out the WFSE Scholarships page and the AFSCME Scholarships page.

Elijah’s personal essay highlighted his mother’s hard work as a newcomer to the United States, a reminder of the resilience that immigrant families show as they work to better their communities and their lives.

“I remember the first few years of my mom’s starting position as a line cook for Western State Hospital,” Elijah wrote. “Whenever my mom came home, her eyes never looked as sunken as they did years ago. When she comes home from her shifts at 7:30 PM, her smile illuminates the room.”

Being a WFSE member has given Elijah's family stability and a solid foundation to build from.That is the union difference.

Not a union member?Join WFSE here.

Elijah has volunteered extensively in Lakewood, leading a 60-member team for Lakewood Youth Council, creating hundreds of COVID and urinalysis kits for the local hospital, and helping students from underrepresented communities as a student ambassador for the Student Achievement Support Services program at Pierce College.

He hopes to become a Biomedical Engineer and carry on AFSCME’s spirit of being a voice for the working class and underserved communities in his future endeavors.

Congratulations again, Elijah! And thank you to your mom, Ellen Mae, for the vital work she does to ensure patients and workers at Western State Hospital are cared for.

Want more information on benefits for union members? Click here for a list of members-only benefits.