Five scholarships are awarded each year in the amount of $5,000. A sixth $2,000 scholarship is available for award to an applicant who will attend a technical or vocational post-secondary school. The competition is open to ATU members and their children. All applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise satisfy these Rules and Procedures. Download Official Application Form or Apply Online

RULES & PROCEDURES

Eligibility

1.    Applicants must be either:

• a member of the ATU in good standing;
• the child (whether natural or legally adopted) or stepchild of a member or of a deceased member who was in good standing at the time of his or her death;
• an adopted grandchild of a member of the ATU in good standing.

2.   Applicants must be high school seniors planning to enter college (or technical or vocational post-secondary school) for the first time following graduation during the 2010-2011 school year, or previous high school graduates that have never attended college.

3.   ATU Scholarships are NOT available to the following persons:

• those who do not intend to work without interruption toward a bachelor degree or graduation from a technical or vocational school;
• those who are attending or have already attended college, technical or vocational school;
• spouses and/or grandchildren of members;
• ATU International Officers, International Representatives, staff, and other employees or their dependents; and
• those who are fully funded for tuition, fees, and books from other sources.

Application Procedures

Valid applications for the ATU Scholarship Program MUST include the following:

1. Completed Official Application Form
2. Scholarship Questionnaire
3. Written Essay

The Application Form

1.  Official Application forms can be obtained from any ATU local union or contact Lauri Straughan (lstraughan@atu.org) at the ATU Scholarship Program Office, 5025 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20016-4139, Tel: (toll free) 1-888-240-1196. You may also use the copy published in our In Transit magazine or apply electronically on our website.

2.    Completed applications not submitted online must be sent by first class mail to the ATU Scholarship Program Office at the above address.

3.    Applications must be POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31, 2011. Late applications will not be accepted.

4.    Upon receipt of the application by the ATU Scholarship Program Office, applicants will receive the following materials by return mail:

1. Scholarship Questionnaire
2. Bibliography of Suggested References for the Essay

Scholarship Questionnaire

1.  Applicants, and/or their parent or legal guardian, must sign the authorization statement for the release of the information requested in the Scholarship Questionnaire.

2.  The form should then be presented for completion to the principal or headmaster of the secondary school attended by the applicant.

3.  Applicants are responsible for ensuring that this form is returned to the ATU Scholarship Program Office POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2011.

Essay

1.  Applicants are required to write an essay of no less than 500 words and no more than 750 words in English, French or Spanish on the subject of:

Organized Labor’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of the United States
for residents of the United States

OR

Organized Labour’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of Canada
for residents of Canada.

NOTE: The essay will be evaluated on an analysis of the topic – the facts and arguments – that are presented as demonstrating that the student understands the topic, and the effectiveness of the essay in demonstrating how organized labor benefits everyone, whether they are union members or not. Grammar, style, organization and presentation will also be evaluated.

2.    Essays must be sent, preferably with the Scholarship Questionnaire, by first class mail to the ATU Scholarship Program Office, POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2011.

DEADLINES

All deadlines will be strictly enforced. Any application which is incomplete or is not postmarked on time will not be considered.

SELECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The ATU International shall appoint a Selection Committee of community, academic, and labor leaders. No ATU officer, member, staff or employee shall participate in the final selection process.

Applicants will be judged on the basis of their scholastic record, involvement in community, extra-curricular activities, and the quality of the essay submitted.

The Committee shall select five academic scholarship winners and five alternates, and one technical or vocational scholarship winner and alternate. Decisions of the Committee shall be final.

If a recipient is disqualified due to a failure to fulfill all Scholarship Program requirements, the ATU Scholarship will be awarded to the next qualified alternate.

The recipient(s) will be notified by mail of their award and will also be given a form to complete in order to obtain the scholarship funds. Upon the return of the required information, a check will be issued to the university or vocational school in the appropriate amount. The award will be restricted to the payment of tuition, books, and associated fees.