Scholarship Info

Several scholarships are available to WFSE members and their families. Select a scholarship to learn more and apply.

THE AFSCME FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
ALTHEA LUTE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
GERALD W. MCENTEE SCHOLARSHIP
JACQUIE JONES-WALSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - New!
NEVILLE B. CRIPPEN GRANT-IN-AID AWARDS
NORM SCHUT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
UNION PLUS EDUCATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
YOUNGLOVE & COKER SCHOLARSHIP

THE AFSCME FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Looking for financial support for college? Each year the AFSCME Family Scholarship Program provides ten $2,000 scholarships to high school seniors that will be renewed for $2,000 each year for a maximum of four years, provided the student remains enrolled in a full-time course of study. The scholarship may be used for any field of study. The deadline to apply for the 2022 AFSCME Family Scholarship has passed.

  >> AFSCME FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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ALTHEA LUTE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

This $5,000 scholarship is available to eligible members or members of their families to pursue studies in a degree program at a Public College or University in Washington State.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicant must be a WFSE/AFSCME member (membership beginning at least a year before application) OR an immediate family member (including domestic partners) of a WFSE/AFSCME member (membership beginning at least a year before application).
  • The applicant must be a graduating senior, or a high school graduate (GED accepted) from an accredited public, private or parochial high school.
  • Applicants must have a satisfactory scholastic standing, be in need of financial assistance and have participated in community service.
  • An official, sealed transcript from the applicant's high school or vocational school or college must be included with the application.

RULES AND PROCESS:

Rules governing recipient award and use of funds:

  1. Recipient must provide evidence of acceptance into a degree program at a Public College or University in Washington State of his or her choice during the academic year following the award.
  2. The $5,000 award may be drawn on by the student for tuition, registration fees, books and incidental direct costs to education. Any balance at the end of the first academic year following the award will be available to recipient on entering school the second year, conditional upon maintenance of satisfactory standing.

The AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Scholarship Committee will evaluate the applications and determine the recipient of the award. The decision of the Committee will be final.

DEADLINE:  Fully completed applications must be received by 5 p.m., July 31st.

TO APPLY: Download, print and complete the application form then mail to the Scholarship Committee, c/o WFSE HQ, 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300, Olympia WA 98501.

  >>ALTHEA LUTE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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GERALD W. MCENTEE SCHOLARSHIP

AFSCME members are eligible to apply for the Gerald W. McEntee Scholarship. Awarded in honor of former AFSCME Pres. Jerry McEntee, the $5,000 scholarship will go to the candidate who best exemplifies President McEntee’s commitment to strengthening our union through organizing, building political power for working families, defending workers’ rights, and supporting public services. President McEntee served at the helm of AFSCME for 31 years and grew our union to 1.6 million members while helping defeat efforts to privatize Social Security and change Medicare.

The Gerald W. McEntee Scholarship will be awarded annually to an AFSCME member for use towards higher education expenses. It is a one time scholarship and may not be awarded twice to the same member.

TO APPLY:

  1. Applicants must first apply for the Union Plus Scholarship. (The Union Plus Scholarship application also serves as the application for the Gerald W. McEntee  scholarship). Applications must be completed online here.
  2. In the essay portion of the application members will be asked to write an additional essay for the McEntee scholarship. Answer “yes” to the question, “Are you an AFSCME member?” Members will be asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words  describing their commitment to the work led by President McEntee in areas such as new organizing, political power for working people, and support for public services.

Scholarship applications are judged by a committee of impartial post secondary educators.

*Union Plus Scholarship awards range from $500 to $4,000.

Application period opens June 15th and closes January 31st. Winners announced May 31st.

   >> MCENTEE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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JACQUIE JONES-WALSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship, created in honor of community activist and unionist Jacquie Jones-Walsh, covers dues for a one-year membership to the applicant’s constituency group of choice.

To qualify, you must:

  • Identify with the constituency group you’d like a membership to
  • Be an AFSCME Council 28/WFSE member in good standing
  • Submit a paragraph on why you want this scholarship & what you will bring back to our union through your work with the constituency group of your choice (200 words or less)

DEADLINE: Fully completed applications due by 5 p.m., October 31.

TO APPLY: Download the below application and return completed to the AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Scholarship Committee, 1212 Jefferson St SE, Suite 300, Olympia, WA 98501 (Fax: 360-352-7608)

   >> JACQUIE JONES-WALSH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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NEVILLE B. CRIPPEN GRANT-IN-AID AWARDS

This quarterly award was established to help members advance their education or improve skills.

  1. The Scholarship Committee will administer the program.
  2. All funds set aside for the program shall be available for grants-in-aid solely for or in connection with educational purposes or the improvement of one's skills. Financial need will be a consideration.
  3. Those eligible for grants shall be members in good standing of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Council 28, AFSCME, AFL-CIO. A grant recipient is eligible to have dues waived for the period of time the individual is a full-time student and is not receiving wages from the state.
  4. Each grant request shall be submitted to the committee on the form provided at least 30 days prior to the date the course begins.
  5. The maximum grant to any one individual shall be the quarterly or semester registration fee at the school of choice, plus allowance for connected expenses upon presentation of receipts. The grant to any one individual shall not exceed $500 per quarter.

DEADLINE: Submit your application at least 30 days before the start-date of the course.

TO APPLY: Print the application form and return to the Scholarship Committee, c/o WFSE HQ, 1212 Jefferson St SE, Suite 300, Olympia WA 98501.

  >> NEVILLE B. CRIPPEN GRANT APPLICATION

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NORM SCHUT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Three $1,000 Norm Schut Scholarships are available. They allow eligible members or members of their families to pursue studies at an accredited vocational school, college or university. One of the awards is earmarked specifically for an active member; the other two are open for members, their spouses and their children.

The scholarship is named after Norm Schut, WFSE's first executive director, who served from 1952 to 1974.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicant must be a graduating senior or high school graduate (GED accepted) from an accredited public, private, or parochial high school.
  • Applicant must be a member of AFSCME Council 28/WFSE, (membership beginning at least six months before application) or an immediate family member of a AFSCME Council 28/WFSE member (membership beginning at least six months before application).
  • The application must be completed and received at AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Headquarters at the above address no later than April 30. Envelopes should be clearly marked "To the Scholarship Committee.”
  • Applicant must qualify as a resident of Washington State. They must have a satisfactory scholastic standing and be in need of financial assistance. There are no sex or age restrictions.
  • An official, sealed transcript from the applicant's high school or vocational school or college must be included with the application.

RULES AND PROCESS:

Rules governing recipient award and use of funds:

  • Recipient must agree to enroll in an accredited vocational school, college or university of his or her choice during the academic year following the award.
  • The $1000 award may be drawn on by student for tuition, registration fees, books and incidental, direct costs to education.  Any balance at the end of the first academic year following the award will be available to recipient on entering school the second year, conditional upon maintenance of satisfactory standing.

The AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Scholarship Committee will evaluate the applications and determine the recipient of the award no later than August of each year. The decision of the Committee will be final.

DEADLINE:  Fully completed applications must be received by 5 p.m., April 30th.

TO APPLY: Download, print and complete the application form then mail to the Scholarship Committee, c/o WFSE HQ, 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300, Olympia WA 98501.

  >> NORM SCHUT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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UNION PLUS EDUCATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

The Union Plus Scholarship is awarded annually to AFSCME members and their familes. Current and retired members, their spouses, and dependent children (including foster children, step children and any other child for whom the individual member provides greater than 50% of his or her support) are eligible. Graduate students are now eligible.

The amount of the award ranges between $500.00 and $4000.00. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for undergraduate study beginning in the fall of the same year.

By the time the award is issued, applicants must:

  • Be accepted into an accredited college or community college or a recognized technical or trade school.
  • Submit their high school, college, or trade school transcript.  Applicants who have taken the SAT or ACT must provide their exam score.
  • Provide one personal reference, a verification of AFSCME membership and an essay of 500 words on the applicant’s personal interests and aspirations, as well as an explanation as to why he or she is deservig of a union scholarship.

DEADLINE:  January 31

  >> UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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YOUNGLOVE & COKER SCHOLARSHIP

The $2,500 Younglove & Coker Scholarship is available to eligible members or members of their families to pursue studies at an accredited vocational school, college or university. This scholarship is funded by a generous grant from the law firm of Younglove & Coker, WFSE’s attorneys.

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicant must be a member (membership beginning at least one year prior to application) of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Council 28, AFSCME, AFL-CIO OR an immediate family member (including domestic partners) of a WFSE member (membership beginning at least one year prior to application).
  •  Applicant must be a graduating senior or high school graduate (GED accepted) from an accredited public, private, or parochial high school. Applicant must have a satisfactory scholastic standing.  

  •  Applicant must be in need of financial assistance. 
  • An official, sealed transcript from the applicant's high school or vocational school or college must be included with the application.

RULES AND PROCESS:

Rules governing recipient award and use of funds:

  1. Recipient must agree to enroll in an accredited vocational school, college or university of his or her choice during the academic year following the award.
  2. The $2,500 may be drawn on by the student for registration fees, books and incidental, direct costs to education.  Any balance at the end of the first academic year following the award will be available to recipient on entering school the second year, conditional upon maintenance of satisfactory standing.

The AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Scholarship Committee will evaluate the applications and determine the recipient of the award no later than August of each year. The decision of the Committee will be final.

DEADLINE:  The application must be completed and received by the AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Scholarship Committee no later than 5 p.m. on April 30. All envelopes should be clearly marked "To the AFSCME Council 28/WFSE Scholarship Committee.”

  >> YOUNGLOVE & COKER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

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