Santa Cruz High School Graduate Wins $8,000 College Scholarship

BOSTON— Alok Pandey, 18, a 2006 graduate of Santa Cruz High School in Santa Cruz, Cal., is one of four individuals awarded an $8,000 Robert G. Porter scholarship by the American Federation of Teachers. This scholarship goes to outstanding high school seniors who are dependents of AFT members.

The award, which has been presented since 1992, is given to recipients who have demonstrated exceptional service to their community and who plan to pursue a career in labor, education, health or government service. The AFT will present the awards on July 23 during the union’s biennial national convention in Boston.

Pandey raised funds for the victims of the 2004 tsunami in the South Pacific and for families in the United States who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. He also helped organize a benefit concert for the South Asia earthquake victims in 2005. Pandey has pursued an interest in social justice and civil rights through the Mock Trial program, in which he was recognized as “Most Outstanding Defense Attorney” his senior year.

The Porter Scholars program is named in honor of the AFT’s late secretary-treasurer, Robert G. Porter, who served in that position for 28 years and was known for his commitment to improving the quality of public education and public service.

Pandey’s mother, Annapurna Pandey, is a member of the University Council in California, Local 2199 of the AFT.

Alok Pandey lives in Santa Cruz, Cal., and will be attending Georgetown University in the fall, where he plans to study political science, economics and international relations.

Since its inception, the Porter Scholars program has awarded $480,000 in scholarship funds.

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