Published 05 Jul, 2011
Two children of TWU members have been awarded college scholarships in the 2011 Union Plus Scholarship Program along with 128 other students from union households.
Danielle Felde of Marengo, IL, whose father John Felde is a member of TWU Local 512 and whose mother also is a union member, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Cynthia Giovannetti of Keller, TX, whose father Eric Giovannetti is a member of TWU Local 513, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
“During a time when the labor movement is under attack, helping union members and their children achieve their educational goals is critical. This year’s scholarship recipients appreciate that their unions provide family-sustaining benefits, a voice in the workplace and a path to achieve the American Dream,” says Leslie Tolf, president of Union Privilege, the organization that provides an array of Union Plus benefits for union families, including the scholarship program.
“In 2007, my life took a drastic roll downhill,” says Danielle Felde. During gymnastics she suffered a serious spinal cord injury. While the experience was traumatic, it also helped Danielle come to fully appreciate the community of which she was a part, which included her parents’ unions (her mother is a UFCW member). For in addition to benefiting directly from TWU health insurance, she says, “My father’s union hosted many fundraisers for me…I never realized how many people really care about me.” While Danielle’s physical recovery is continuing, her education is still rolling along, and she plans to become an orthodontist.
For Cynthia Giovannetti, attending college is a step toward fulfilling her dream. She is a longtime volunteer at the local Ronald McDonald house, serving families whose children are undergoing medical treatment. She has cooked meals, played with children and led activities during the holidays. Through her volunteer work she discovered a passion for helping children: “Their innocence toward life and their unceasing smiles and happiness attract me to want to be part of their well-being,” she says. Cynthia is planning to attend medical school and become a pediatrician.
Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school or a recognized technical or trade school. Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded $3 million in educational funding to more than 2,100 union members, spouses and dependent children. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.