The Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship
  Honoring AFT President Emeritus Carl Megel

The Illinois Federation of Teachers shall present one special education scholarship award in the amount of $1,000. The award is entirely 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 this 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 a special education 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 particular scholarship.

The IFT Robert G. Porter Scholarship
  Honoring late AFT Secretary-Treasurer Robert G. Porter

The Illinois Federation of Teachers shall present two $6,000 scholarship awards ($1,500 each year for four years) provided a student is enrolled full-time at an Illinois public university and maintains a "C" cumulative average. The award is entirely unrestricted as to race, religion or political affiliation. The 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. The applicant must be a high school senior with a cumulative "B" average.

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 forty years. Mr. 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.

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.

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 sixty years to the labor movement and to civic and community service.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must graduate from a Chicago or surounding 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 ths. Mr. Lee devoted more than sixty years to the caue of labor and civic and community service.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must graduate from a Chicago or surounding suburban area high school in 2007. In addition, the student or one of his or her parents must belong to a local union affiliated with the Chicago Federation of Labor. 

Union Plus Scholarship

Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarhip for planning to attend a four-year collee or university, a community college or a technical college or trade school.

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. 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.

(The application deadline for the 2010 Scholarship will be announced when it becomes available.)