Union Plus recently awarded $170,000 in scholarships to 108 students representing 34 unions, including three winners who represent AFGE. This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes university, college, and trade or technical school students from 31 states plus the District of Columbia.
The AFGE winners are:
N’Jhari is thankful for his mother’s AFGE membership, which was beneficial when she sustained an on-the-job injury and faced bureaucratic roadblocks within the medical system.
“Being able to meet with AFGE officials and allowing them to work on her behalf breathed new life into my mom,” N’Jhari said. “AFGE advocated for her and reminded the parties of their legal obligations, demanding she be compensated after three months of worry. I am forever grateful.”
Chris said his mother joined AFGE because she realized how vital the union is for employees.
“AFGE is always available to fight and supports employees,” Chris said. “The union works hard every day to ensure more benefits for employees and to ensure that they have a healthy, unbiased environment.”
Union Plus President Mitch Stevens said the entire team at Union Plus is so proud to be able to offer this scholarship program to help union family members offset the high cost of college education.
“This year’s group of 108 winners are all incredibly talented, motivated, and deserving students taking an important step to further their education and build the foundation for future success.”
N’Jhari Jackson
N’Jhari is a 2019 graduate of Carrollwood Day School (CDS) in Tampa, Florida. He will begin college this fall and plans to major in forensic psychology and criminology and linguistics. N’Jhari was selected for the FBI Tampa Office Future Agents in Training (FAIT) program and wants to work for the FBI as a forensic psychologist and Chinese linguistic specialist after graduation.
He was selected as a delegate to deliver the 2015 Boy Scout Report to the Nation in Washington, D.C. N’Jhari is active in volunteerism in the Tampa area and earned the 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, recognizing him as Florida’s top youth volunteer. He was also presented with the Congressional Award Bronze and Silver Medals for initiative, service, and achievement. N’Jhari developed NJ’s Love-to-the-Rescue, which raises funds to supply automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to schools and youth organizations. He helps ensure teachers and staff are trained in CPR, first aid, and AED use, and also advocates heart screenings for students and young athletes.
ESPN and ABC Action News earlier this month chose N’Jhari as the recipient of an honorary ESPY Award, the annual award given to athletes who excel on and off the field.
Activities and honors: Carson Scholar; Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow; CDS varsity football, lacrosse; Junior Olympic swimming
Volunteerism: A Day with Vets/Blankets for Vets; Pajama Buddy Backpacks; Men of Vision Inc.; Joshua House, Children’s Home Society Florida; Shriners Hospitals for Children; Saving Young Hearts; Parent Heart Watch
Marcus Sledge
Marcus is a 2019 graduate of the Virginia Governor’s Academy for Engineering Studies at Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He will begin college this fall and plans to major in chemical engineering, with career aspirations of developing sustainably produced pharmaceuticals and healthcare products that are more affordable and accessible.
Marcus participated in summer engineering programs at Virginia Tech (BLAST — Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology) and North Carolina State University.
Dr. Nancy Hoover, coordinator of the Virginia Governor’s Academy for Engineering Studies at L.C. Bird, said Marcus is the kind of student in whom the academy takes pride. “To say Marcus is a well-rounded student is a bit of an understatement,” Hoover said. “He is an academically talented student who shows a strong commitment to his community.”
Activities and honors: National Honor Society; senior class historian; L.C. Bird marching, concert, jazz bands; L.C. Bird Ultimate Frisbee; Richmond Kicker youth soccer
Volunteerism: Salvation Army Angel Tree; Massey Cancer Center; Colorado Fund for Muscular Dystrophy; Latino Festival
Christopher Washington
Chris is a pre-medicine biology major at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and expects to graduate in 2021. He was inspired to enter the medical field due to his cousin’s need for reconstructive surgery. Chris is interested in cosmetic surgery, particularly facial reconstruction. He is a 2018 graduate of Saint Petersburg [Florida] Collegiate High School.
Activities and honors: Physicians in Training; Biology Student Organization; Kappa League Male Leadership Institute; Dr. Mac J. Williams Sr. Academic Excellence Award; Outstanding Volunteer Award; Bright Future Scholarship recipient
Volunteerism: Bay Pines Veterans Affairs
The new 2020 Union Plus scholarship application is now available!
The application is entirely online , allowing students to complete their application over time and save their responses. Over the past 28 years, more than $4.5 million have been awarded to students of over 3,000 union families. Start your application today! Deadline: January 31, 2020 | www.unionplus.org/scholarship
Click here to learn More about the Union Plus Scholarship.
The Office of Personnel Management last week took a huge step toward aligning the locality pay maps for employees on the Federal Wage System and General Schedule.
Read More
With the election approaching Marcial Gomez talks about what’s on the line for TSA employees and his concerns about Project 2025.
Read More
Members of AFGE’s DEFCON Steering Group met along with AFGE staff and elected leaders to discuss ways to better serve employees throughout the DoD in the year ahead.
Read More
