Joshua Parecki says watching his mother, Karen Parecki, care for veterans as a medical professional at the Department of Veterans Affairs and fight for workers’ rights as a member of AFGE Local 2110 in Palo Alto, Calif., influenced his decision to pursue a career in public health with the goal of becoming a doctor.
“My mother is an active member of AFGE and inspires me every day to fight for and support any community for which I am a part,” said Joshua, who is studying public health at Tulane University. “By serving in the medical field I hope to be able to give back to my community, just like my mother has.”
Joshua is one of 204 students to receive college scholarships this year from the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, or FEEA.
FEEA is the only non-profit organization devoted solely to providing federal workers and their families with emergency financial assistance and higher education scholarships. To date, FEEA has awarded more than $14 million in scholarships to nearly 11,000 children of federal workers in the pursuit of higher education.
Another of this year’s recipients is Giovanni Benevides, who was sponsored by his father, Jeffrey Benevides, a Bureau of Prisons employee and member of AFGE Local 222.
Giovanni is majoring in civil engineering at the University of Rhode Island, with the goal of landing a federal job and contributing to the defense industry. In a thank-you letter, he said the scholarship is about more than money.
“This award is more than financial assistance. It is a meaningful reminder that there are people and organizations who believe in students like me and in the importance of supporting federal families. At a time when the cost of education can feel overwhelming, your generosity has helped ease that burden and has allowed me to focus more fully on my studies, my goals, and my future,” he wrote.
Anahita Abianeh began her studies at the University of Maryland this fall and is pursuing a major in biochemistry, eyeing a career in healthcare like her mother, Zivile Balaisyte, a member of AFGE Local 1410 at the Defense Health Agency who sponsored her daughter for the scholarship.
“Watching her care for patients as a dental hygienist at Walter Reed Medical Center has shown me how healthcare professionals can make a significant difference in the lives of others and has inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. My future professional plans include attending medical school and pursuing a career in dermatology,” Anahita said.
A total of 19 students sponsored by AFGE members were awarded scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 this year.
Click here for a full list of AFGE-sponsored recipients.
FEEA will begin accepting applications for next year’s scholarships later this month. Details will be posted here.
Written by OPEIU 2 AFL-CIO
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