2016 Quill Scholarship Recipients Announced

As graduation loomed for high school students across the country, 335 of them, sons and daughters and other dependents of TWU members, awaited word on the Michael J. Quill Scholarship announcement.

Established in 1969, the Quill Scholarship Fund provides 15 scholarships worth $4,800 to college-bound dependents of TWU members. It is paid out per year in the amount of $1,200 to winners who continue to be eligible over their four-year course of study. The money is paid directly to the recipient’s accredited college or university and may be used for tuition, college fees, or room and board while pursuing an undergraduate degree.

TWU International Executive Vice President and Local 100 President John Samuelsen, center, presided over the annual random drawing for Quill Scholarship winners at TWU headquarters.

TWU leadership is committed to honoring the tradition of investing in the educational goals of our members’ children and is grateful to be joined in this noble endeavor by three other scholarship sponsors—Union Benefit Planners, M3 Technology and Pitta & Giblin LLP.

At TWU International headquarters last week, the names of the lucky winners were drawn at random by International Executive Vice President and Local 100 President John Samuelsen, assisted by Executive Secretary Tinisha Thompson, Local 100 members, and representatives of the other generous sponsors.

Speaking as a parent and proud union member, Samuelsen said, “these scholarships offer a chance for our children to have greater opportunities than we did. We’re proud of our work and what we do, but we may not want our kids working on a subway track at three in the morning.”

The winners came from locals large and small across TWU divisions, representing some of the best and brightest students in the country, eager to continue their education. They can now do so with some financial assistance to make the journey a little easier.

Union Benefit Planners sponsored 14 scholarships of $2,500 each; M3 Technology awarded five scholarships of $2,000 each; and, in memory of J. Brian Duggan, Pitta & Giblin provided two scholarships worth $2,500 each. These scholarships will be paid out in the first year, as a single award.

TWU will continue to honor our founder by investing in the next generation and to support the commitment to learning that all of the Quill Scholarship applicants exhibit. Our members and their families are our greatest asset.

On a separate note, Union Plus recently awarded a $4,000 scholarship to Murphy Grossett, son of Thomas Grossett, member of Local 513. Congratulations!