Ohio member receives grant

Sonia Tillman, a member of the Professionals Guild of Ohio, is now counted among the winners of the revered Robert G. Porter Scholars Program.

Winning the Porter Scholars Program grant “means a lot,” says Tillman, an adoption placement worker for Montgomery County Children Services who is working toward a master’s degree in criminal justice and social problems at Wright State University. “I’m a single parent. It gets quite difficult when trying to raise kids, have a career and extend your education. This has been a wonderful blessing.”

The program was established in 1992 by the AFT executive council to honor the late AFT secretary-treasurer for his contributions to the union, to education and to the labor movement. Porter served as secretary-treasurer from 1963 until his passing in 1991.

Joining Tillman in the winners’ circle is Neha Chauhan, daughter of New York State Public Employees Federation members Ved and Abha Chauhan, autism researchers at the New York State Institute for Basic Research. Chauhan, recipient of a Porter Scholars Program scholarship, graduated first in her class of nearly 500 and will be attending Harvard University this fall.

The winners of the 2004 competition were announced during the AFT national convention in Washington, D.C. Under the program, the AFT awards four $8,000 scholarships to high school seniors whose parents are AFT members and $1,000 grants to members who are continuing their education. Nearly 200 members submitted applications for the grant competition; more than 440 applications were submitted by graduating high school seniors for the scholarship competition.