Scholarship Information

IFPTE Annual Scholarships

The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) has established a scholarship program for students who have demonstrated skills through academic achievement and service to their school and community.

IFPTE awards three college scholarships of $1,500 each to children or grandchildren of IFPTE members who wish to continue their education beyond high-school, whether in public or private colleges, universities, community colleges or technical institutes (must be accredited). [Children and grandchildren of IFPTE Executive Officers are not eligible for the scholarships.] The three annual scholarships are granted to one child/grandchild from each of the three sectors of IFPTE: private, public and federal.

Eligibility

Any child or grandchild of a current IFPTE member may apply provided the student is a High School Senior. The scholarship awards are designed to be used in the school year following the recipient's graduation and may not be used retroactively or prospectively.

Application Procedure

To apply, a student needs to submit the following NO LATER THAN MARCH 15TH OF EACH YEAR:

1) Official transcripts of high school grades signed by the guidance counselor or school administrator.

2) Three (3) letters of recommendation.

3) An essay of a minimum of 500 words on the following topic: "What Being a Member of a Union Family has Meant to Me"

4) A completed application form (photocopies accepted). Evidence of grades of college entrance exams (ACT or SAT) is optional.

Applications submitted without any part of the four elements listed will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified from the judging. Materials will not be returned.

Criteria for Winning

Winners will be chosen on the basis of their essays (40%), academic achievement (20%), and school and community activities (40%). Judging will be done by a respected member of the labor community specializing in labor education.

Selection of Winners

Winners will be selected on or about May 1 of each year. Winners will be contacted by certified mail announcing their scholarship award. Names of the winners will be publicized in the IFPTE newspaper, the OUTLOOK, and on their website. IFPTE also reserves the right to print the winning essays and to cause the winners' names and essays to be printed in other newspapers.

For information, or an application form (after September 1st), log on the IFPTE web site at http://www.ifpte.org

EDITOR'S NOTE: IFPTE Scholarship winners in the public sector for the last two years have been children of SPEEA members: 2001 - Heather Trees, daughter of Ron Trees ... 2000 - Kali Drake, daughter of Jeff Drake.

"Union Plus" Scholarship available to SPEEA families

Union Plus Scholarship Program. Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded over $1.65 million to union members or members of their families who want to begin or continue their secondary education. This annual program is funded by Household Credit Services and administered by Union Privilege.

The Union Plus Scholarship Awards were announced on May 31, 2001. This year, 115 students, representing 31 AFL-CIO unions, received $151,000 in scholarships. The program's top $4,000 awards went to 12 students, while 79 students attending four-year institutions received awards ranging from $500 to $2,000. Twenty-four students attending community colleges and trade schools received scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000.

This annual program resumes in September of each year. At that time, the scholarship application will be available to download from this site: http://www.unionprivilege.org/benefits/scholarship/scholarship.htm

Who is eligible?

Members, their spouses and dependent children (as defined under IRS regulations; includes foster children, step children and any other child for whom the member provides greater than 50 percent of their support) of unions participating in the Union Plus Credit Card program may apply. Having a Union Plus Credit Card is not a requirement. One year of continuous good standing union membership is required at the time of the award. The individual must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Graduate students are not eligible.

How much is the award?

The amount of the award ranges between $500 and $4,000. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for undergraduate study beginning in the fall of the same year.

When is the deadline?

Applications for annual awards must be postmarked no later than January 31 to be considered. They should be returned to the post office box noted on the application. If an applicant is interested in receiving confirmation of the receipt of their application, they need to include a self-addressed stamped postcard with their application. The postcard will be returned to them once the application is received.

How are applications judged?

Applications are first reviewed by a panel of independent career professionals (impartial post-secondary educators). Winners are chosen based on academic achievement, potential, character, leadership, social awareness, career goals and financial need. Semi-finalists are chosen based on a point scale, and their applications are then provided to judges for further review and selection of finalists and awards. Program judges include representatives from the American Association of Community Colleges, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, and the United Negro College Fund.

Winners are announced on May 31st.

Boeing Scholarships

Boeing offers several different scholarships to children of Boeing employees. For all of the scholarships listed below, there is no application process through Boeing. All information and applications should be obtained by the student from his/her school advisor.

Undergraduate Scholarships

Boeing gives scholarships to academic institutions that they work closely with on technology collaborations and in recruiting employees.

Historically Black Colleges and Minority Institutions Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to students who attend these colleges.

Community College Scholarships

Scholarships are given to students who are in the Tech Prep internship program. In addition, community colleges near major Boeing facilities are granted yearly scholarships for their students. Students must be attending a community or technical college in the vicinity of a Boeing facility. $750 scholarships are available each year to participating community and technical colleges.

National Merit Scholarship Competition

Four-year National Merit Scholarships ($1,500 a year for four years for use at a four-year college or university) are given to sons and daughters of Boeing employees who have qualified to receive them through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students enter this academic competition by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in the fall.

To qualify for a scholarship, students in their junior year of high school should obtain a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin from their high school counselor and make arrangements with their school to take the test in October.

You can contact the National Merit Scholarship Corporation by writing to:

Department of Educational and Scholarship Services
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
1560 Sherman Ave, Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60201-4897
Phone: (847) 866-5100

For information about these available Boeing-sponsored scholarships, check out the website

http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships/

BECU Foundation Scholarships

If you are a member of the Boeing Employees Credit Union, you or your children may be eligible to apply for scholarships through BECU. Each year the BECU Foundation awards at least twenty-five $2,000 scholarships to graduating high-school seniors and current, full-time undergraduate college students.

The BECU Foundation began in 1995 for the purpose of supporting education by administering student scholarships. In the last six years, over 200 scholarships have been awarded. With the help of outside donors, 39 were awarded in 2001 — the largest number since the foundation began.

Scholarship selection is based upon participation in community and school activities, leadership and academic achievement. Recipients must be members of BECU.

HOW TO APPLY:

To pick up an application, visit BECU’s web site (http://www.becu.org/default.asp?pid=scholarships) or call a BECU representative (206/439-5700 or 1-800-233-2328).

DEADLINE:

Applications must be postmarked by March 31 to be eligible for consideration. Scholarship recipients will be invited to attend a special award luncheon in May.