Scholarships
The Illinois Federations of Teachers supports the continuing education of high school seniors by awarding two scholarships annually. The scholarships were established by the IFT to assist students with pursuing education beyond high school and to promote an understanding of the labor movement in young people that will endure for generations to come. Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria and strict, unique deadlines, so applicants should review the application forms and eligibility requirements carefully before applying.
The Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship
Honoring AFT President Emeritus Carl J. Megel
The
Illinois Federation of Teachers shall present one special education
scholarship award annually in the amount of $1,000. The award is
unrestricted as to race, religion, political affiliation or choice of
accredited college, university, business, trade or vocational school.
The applicant must be the son or daughter of a currently employed,
active member in good standing of the Illinois Federation of Teachers,
or the son or daughter of a deceased member who was in good standing
with the Illinois Federation of Teachers at the time of death, and a
high school senior who will graduate in current school year.
Additionally, a student may be sponsored by an IFT member who is
currently or has previously been a teacher of the special education
student (attach a letter stating reasons for sponsorship and teacher's
name, address and local number). Students applying for the Megel
scholarship must be presently enrolled in a special education school,
class or program for students with mental impairments, physical
impairments, learning disabilities, visual/hearing impairments,
deafness/blindness, behavior/emotional disorders, speech/language
impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury or other health impairment.
Students who plan to teach in Special Education are not eligible for
this scholarship.
2012 Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship Application
2010 Winner
The IFT Robert G. Porter Scholarship
Honoring
late AFT Secretary-Treasurer Robert G. Porter
The Illinois
Federation of Teachers shall provide annually two $6,000 scholarship
awards ($1,500 each year for four years) to current high schools seniors
with no less than a cumulative "B" grade average. Successful applicants
must plan to attend full-time at an Illinois public university and
maintain at least a "C" cumulative grade average after graduating from
high school. The award is unrestricted as to race, religion or political
affiliation. An applicant must be the son or daughter of a currently
employed, active member in good standing of the Illinois Federation of
Teachers, the son or daughter of a member of an IFT retirees chapter or
the son or daughter of a deceased member who was in good standing with
the Illinois Federation of Teachers at the time of death.
2012 Robert G. Porter Scholarship Application
2010 Winners
Thomas H. Reece Memorial Teacher Education Scholarship
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) awards the annual Thomas H. Reece Memorial Teacher Education Scholarship, which honors Thomas H. Reece, past president of the IFT and CTU and a vital force in both organizations for over 40 years. Reece highly respected the teaching profession and the importance of public education. During his entire professional career, he fought for teacher rights and dignity and a better education for all students.
The CTU awards a scholarship of up to $2,000 to a CTU/IFT member or their child who is currently enrolled in a public university with a declared education major or enrolled in a Master of Education program.
Application forms for this scholarship will be posted when available.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Robert G. Porter Scholars Program
The AFT Robert G. Porter Scholars Program offers four 4-year, $8,000 post-secondary scholarships to students who are dependents of AFT members, as well as 10 one-time $1,000 grants to AFT members to assist with their continuing education.
For more information about the Porter Scholars Program see the links below.
• Details about the program and eligibility requirements
• FAQs
• 2010 scholarship winners
• About Robert G. Porter
Closed for applications.
Chicago Federation of Labor William A. Lee Memorial Scholarship
The Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) is currently accepting application requests for the 2010 William A. Lee Memorial Scholarship Awards. The CFL will offer ten scholarship awards, each in the amount of $2,000, to be awarded equally in two categories: academic competition and random drawing. Students may only apply in one of the two categories.
The awards are named after the late former president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. William Lee devoted more than 60 years to the labor movement and to civic and community service.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must graduate from a Chicago or surrounding suburban area high school in 2010. In addition, the student or one of his or her parents must belong to a local union affiliated with the Chicago Federation of Labor. Lee devoted more than 60 years to the cause of labor and civic and community service.
The application deadline for the 2011 Scholarship will be announced when it becomes available.
Union Plus Scholarship
Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $1.8 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their secondary education at a four-year college or university, a community college or a technical college or trade school. The program is open to members, spouses and dependent children of unions participating in any of the Union Plus programs. Members are not required to purchase any Union Plus products or participate in any Union Plus program to apply.
The amount of the award ranges from $500 to $4,000. This is a one-time cash award sent to individual winners for undergraduate study beginning in the fall of the same year.
Winners are chosen based on academic achievement and potential, character, leadership, social awareness, career goals and financial need. Applications are judged by a committee of impartial post-secondary educators.
More information and applications forms for the 2011 scholarship are now available. The deadline is January 31, 2011.