Marquardt Scholarship

Union membership helps workers build a better future for their families. AFSCME members and their families benefit from annual scholarship opportunities to pursue their education goals.

Children of AFSCME members who are high school seniors or college students under the age of 25 are eligible to apply for AFSCME Council 31's annual Larry Marquardt Scholarship, as well as members in good standing who plan to attend school full-time.

Two winners will be awarded $3,000 each. The scholarship honors Larry Marquardt, the first executive director of Council 31 and a tireless union organizer who dedicated his life to improving the lives of working people. To get more information about Council 31's Marquardt Scholarship, view online. For a printable application, check the website.

There are many other scholarship opportunities available for union members. Make sure to explore your options!

• AFSCME Family Scholarship
• Chicago Federation of Labor's William A. Lee Memorial Scholarship
• MORE AFSCME scholarship programs for members

Larry Marquardt was a tireless organizer and union leader who dedicated his life to improving the lives of working people. He was the first executive director of AFSCME Council 31, serving in that position until his death in 1980. In his memory, Council 31 has established a scholarship fund which offers AFSCME members and their children financial assistance for higher education.

Value

Three scholarships of $3,000 each will be awarded each school year.

Application

To obtain an application from our website, please go to www.afscme31.org and follow the link AFSCME Scholarships on the left side of our homepage. Complete the application and return to the Council’s Chicago office, 205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2100, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Attention: Scholarship Fund. All items must be completed and all information is confidential.

Criteria for Selection

The Committee will consider:

• financial need
• high school or college grades and class ranking
• vocational goals as expressed in the application
• 300-word essay on Why the Labor Movement Is Important to Workers Today

Method of Selection

High school or college grades and class ranking should be submitted with the completed application form. Final selection of scholarship recipients rests with the Selection Committee, which will notify each applicant of the action taken on his or her application.

Payment of Awards

One-half of the award will be paid to the recipient at the beginning of the first term, the remainder will be paid at the beginning of the second term. Payment will be made upon receipt of proof of acceptance and registration for that term.

Eligibility

• Be either a member of AFSCME Council 31 or a dependent child or child living in the household of a Council 31 member or retiree. (Membership of one year in good standing is required.)
• Be a high school senior or college student under the age of 25 or a Council 31 member of any age who plans to attend school fulltime and work toward an undergraduate degree or diplomas in an accredited college or vocational school.
• Meet the requirements of the school they plan to attend.

Deadline

Completed applications must be received by 4 p.m. on the due date and we encourage early application.