2005 scholarship applications now available

Each year, the AFT encourages its members to apply for the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, which offers four $8,000 scholarships for high school seniors graduating in 2005 whose parents are AFT members and who intend to pursue a career in labor, education, healthcare or government service.

Also offered are one-time grants of $1,000 for AFT members pursuing courses in labor relations or courses in your field of work. Last year, the AFT presented the scholarship to two AFT Healthcare members: Susan Flowers and Kimo Morris.

Flowers is an ICU nurse on staff at Indiana (Pa.) Hospital and working on her master’s degree in industrial and labor relations at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

“It was an honor to have validation for what I’m doing, especially as an older student returning to school,” says Flowers, a member of the Indiana (Pa.) Registered Nurses Association. She plans to put her degree to work by advancing the nursing profession and working for local labor causes.

 Morris, a staff nurse at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, N.J., is furthering her education at Rutgers University, where she is enrolled in the nursing program. Ultimately, Morris says she wants to teach.

“I would like to give insight and guidance to future nurses like many wonderful instructors have given me,” Morris wrote in her application.

Members who wish to apply for the Porter Scholars program may download the application from the AFT Web site at www.aft.org/aftplus/scholarships/index.htm or send an e-mail to porterscholars@aft.org. Members who do not have access to a computer may mail a postcard or letter (no phone calls, please) to the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, 555 New Jersey Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2005, to be considered.