Marquardt Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by AFSCME Council 31

Introduction
Union membership helps families secure better opportunities for the future. AFSCME members and their families can apply for annual scholarships offered through AFSCME Council 31 to support their educational goals.

About the Larry Marquardt Scholarship
The Larry Marquardt Scholarship commemorates Larry Marquardt, the first executive director of AFSCME Council 31, who served until his death in 1980 and devoted his life to organizing and improving conditions for working people. Council 31 maintains this fund to provide financial assistance for higher education to members and their children.

Award amount
Three scholarships of $3,000 each are granted each academic year.

Who may apply
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be an AFSCME Council 31 member in good standing (minimum one year of membership), or be a dependent child or a child living in the household of a Council 31 member or retiree.
- Be either a high school senior or a college student under 25, or be a Council 31 member of any age planning to attend school full time and pursue an undergraduate degree or diploma at an accredited college or vocational school.
- Meet the admission requirements of the school they intend to attend.

Application procedure
Download the application from www.afscme31.org by selecting AFSCME Scholarships on the left side of the homepage. Complete every section of the form (all information is treated as confidential) and mail the application to:
AFSCME Council 31 — Scholarship Fund
205 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60601

Include high school or college grades and class ranking with the application.

Selection criteria
The Selection Committee will evaluate applications based on:
- Demonstrated financial need
- High school or college academic record and class ranking
- Stated vocational goals on the application
- A 300-word essay on “Why the Labor Movement Is Important to Workers Today”

Selection process
The final decisions rest with the Selection Committee. All applicants will be informed of the outcome once selections are made.

Payment schedule
Scholarship funds are disbursed in two installments: one-half at the start of the first term and the remaining one-half at the start of the second term. Payments require proof of acceptance and registration for each term.

Deadline
Completed applications must arrive by 4:00 p.m. on the third Friday in April. Early submission is encouraged.

Other scholarship opportunities
Council 31 members and their families are encouraged to explore additional programs, such as:
- AFSCME Family Scholarship
- Chicago Federation of Labor’s William A. Lee Memorial Scholarship
- Other AFSCME scholarship programs for members

For more information
Visit www.afscme31.org and follow the AFSCME Scholarships link, or contact the Council office using the address above.