Scholarships and Awards
Augusta Y. Thomas Civil Rights Award
Each year, the Women’s and Fair Practices Departments awards the Augusta Y. Thomas Civil Rights Award to four dedicated trade unionists who exemplify what it means to be true champions for civil, human, women, and workers’ rights in four areas of service:
- Education and Training
- Member Mobilization
- Legislative Political Action
- Representation through Litigation
We encourage AFGE locals, councils, districts, and general members to nominate individuals who are active in their union and who exemplify NVP Emeritus Augusta Y. Thomas’s legacy of fighting for a more just workplace, union, and world. Learn more about Augusta Y. Thomas here.
Fredna S. White Memorial Scholarship
Come back next year to apply for the 2025-2026 Fredna S. White Memorial Scholarship.
The Fredna S. White Memorial Scholarship Program is named in honor of Fredna S. White, an AFGE trailblazer and champion of human, civil, worker’s, and women’s rights. As an AFGE leader, Fredna served as the chair of the AFGE National Human Rights Committee and the National Women’s Advisory Coordinator for District 10. Fredna was the first woman to serve as president of AFGE Local 1822 in Waco, Texas, and was an active retiree member of the AFGE National VA Council.
These Scholarships are set at $1000 for one year of academic study at an accredited college or university and will be awarded annually to 20 recipients for their exemplary academic achievement, personal accomplishment, and record of community service and engagement.
These Scholarships are not renewable, but applicants may apply every year they are eligible, whether or not they have received an award in the past. The majority of scholarships are awarded for undergraduate study, with occasional awards for graduate study.
To be eligible for the Fredna S. White Memorial Scholarship Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Identify as a woman.
- Be a full-time, part-time, or intermittent civilian federal employee who is also a member (active/retiree/special affiliate) of AFGE OR a relative of an AFGE member. Eligible relatives include:
- Women-identifying children or legal dependents of full-time, part-time, or intermittent federal civilian employees who are members (active/retiree/special affiliate) of AFGE. Dependents must be under the age of 25 and unmarried to be eligible.
- Women-identifying spouses of full-time, part-time, or intermittent civilian federal employees who are members (active/retiree/special affiliate) of AFGE.
- Women-identifying children or grandchildren of members (active/retiree/special affiliate) of AFGE.
- Attend or be planning to attend an accredited institution of higher learning for an undergraduate or graduate degree. Children, grandchildren, dependents, or spouses applying for support must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in their academic program. Federal employee applicants may study part-time.
- AFGE members (active/retiree/special affiliate), either applying directly or serving as a sponsor, must currently meet AFGE’s definition of a member in good standing.
- Have a 3.0 or higher cumulative, unweighted grade point average.
Bernice Heffner Outstanding Women’s Achievement Award
The Bernice Heffner Outstanding Women's Achievement Award is awarded to one woman-identifying AFGE member at each AFGE Convention for their outstanding leadership and action in promoting AFGE goals on issues affecting women. Nominees must be a member in good standing and their demonstrated service must have occurred within the past three years. District Coordinators, National Officers, National Vice-President and Emeritus Officers are not eligible for nomination.
A. Philip Randolph-Hubert Humphrey Award
The A. Philip Randolph-Hubert H. Humphrey Award is awarded to one AFGE member at each AFGE Convention that has demonstrated outstanding service through community activism or in the development of community and/or workplace service programs/policies. District Coordinators, National Officers, National Vice-President and Emeritus Officers are not eligible for nomination.
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