It’s Urgent for Students to Apply to 2014 Texas AFL-CIO Scholarships: DEADLINE is January 31 2014

Texas State Representative Roberto R. Alonzo of Dallas, joins the Texas AFL-CIO in announcing the 2014 scholarship program for children of members of local union families who area affiliated with the Texas AFL-CIO and the local Central Labor Council. Applicants must be high school seniors who are planning to attend a university, college or technical institute in the summer or fall term 2014. Application forms are available from your Labor Council or the Texas AFL-CIO Education Department, PO Box 12727, Austin, TX 78711. And the postmark deadline for applying is Friday, January 31, 2014 . For a complete copy of the application click on the link: 2014 Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Program Application; or contact your local union officer, Central Labor Council or Edward Sills, Texas AFL-CIO Education Department, at (512) 477-6195 or e-mail him at ed@texasaflcio.org
«In light of the current economic situation, coupled with the fact that tuition, institutional fees and the overall costs of getting a college education continues to escalate, I urge all eligible students to apply for these AFL-CIO scholarships,» said Rep. Alonzo. «Moreover, as those costs increase, the accessibility and affordability of a college education continues to become more out of reach for average hard-working families. Thus, it becomes more imperative that our youth and their families take advantage of scholarship programs like this one. I applaud organizations like the Texas AFL-CIO that are helping us meet those demands,» continued Rep. Alonzo.
A member of Texas House Higher Education Committee, Rep. Alonzo is proud to announce this scholarship initiative and encourages students and union members to apply. The Dallas lawmaker is also a giant advocate of higher education accessibility, affordability, and opportunities for all students, particularly Latinos who continue to lag behind the general population when it comes to representation in our college classrooms and graduate rates. Thus the reason, he is proud to promote this program among his constituents, universities, and institutions throughout his district. The scholarship’s goal is to have more qualified students apply for the scholarship in hopes of obtaining ideal recipients.
» I firmly believe that every capable Texas student should have the benefits of going to a college or university regardless of family income status, ethnicity, or prior collegiate track record in the immediate family. Equally important, all Texans should have the opportunity to succeed professionally and survive economically in our society, whether it be in urban, rural, suburban, east, west, north, or south Texas. With our changing demographics and population makeup now shifted toward a more minority majority state, Texans of all ethnic backgrounds, income levels, philosophical beliefs, and gender should have that opportunity today – more so than ever before. I cannot stress how important it is that we must be better prepared as a state and nation to be able to educate that shifting population. This excellent scholarship program is just one avenue toward meeting that goal,» continued Rep. Alonzo.
Higher education issues in general, and specifically the accessibility and affordability of a college education for all Texans, has consistently been at the top of the legislative priorities for Rep. Alonzo since he was first elected to the Texas Legislature in 1992. He continues to advocate the issue in his roles as a member of the House Higher Education Committee as well as Co-Chair of the Higher Education Task Force of the 35-member Mexican American Legislative Caucus, one of the largest and most influential caucuses within the Texas Legislature.

2014 Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Program Application
2014 TEXAS AFL-CIO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
WHO MAY APPLY: Members or children of members of local unions or children whose legal guardians are members of local unions that are affiliated with the Texas AFL-CIO and the local Central Labor Council. Applicants must be high school seniors who are planning to attend a university, college or technical institute in the summer or fall term.
Application forms are available from your Central Labor Council or the Texas AFL-CIO Education Department – P. O. Box 12727, Austin, Texas 78711. THE POSTMARK DEADLINE FOR APPLYING IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014.
TO INSURE PROPER PROCESSING: Please be sure to list the Central Labor Council with which your parent’s or legal guardian’s local union is affiliated. Make sure the application is signed by a union officer and at least one parent or legal guardian. Include an official school transcript and if applicable, proof of legal guardianship. If you are unsure that your local union is affiliated with your local Central Labor Council, please contact one of your local union officers. PLEASE MAIL APPLICATIONS TO: TEXAS AFL-CIO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT – P. O. BOX 12727, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711. Incomplete applications will be returned to the student .
A packet of material on organized labor will be sent to each applicant to prepare for a test about unions. If you do not receive your packet, please contact your central labor council, a local union officer, or the Texas AFL-CIO.
SELECTION PROCESS: Each Central Labor Council will arrange all interviews and tests for applicants no later than April 2, 2014. Please contact your Central Labor Council if you have not received notice of an interview by April 4, 2014. YOU MUST BE TESTED AND INTERVIEWED IN THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL DISTRICT IN WHICH YOUR LOCAL UNION IS AFFILIATED.
After interviews and tests are conducted, each local Central Labor Council will select semi-finalists from among their applicants. Applicant’s financial need, academic achievements, extra curricular activities, and his/her understanding of the labor movement as demonstrated by the test scores and interviews will be considered.

The statewide Scholarship Committee of the Texas AFL-CIO will select winners from among the semi-finalists. The results will be mailed to all applicants. High schools principals will receive notice of winning applicants whose name will be announced in the Texas AFL-CIO Labor News.
If you are awarded a scholarship, please contact the Texas AFL-CIO Education Department in writing or via email to ed@texasaflcio.org, and give us the name and address of the university, college or technical institute you plan to attend. The scholarship will be paid directly to the school of your choice upon acceptance.