Five IAFF Members Graduate from the National Labor College

Local 2924 fire fighter Michael Mullins (right)

July 1, 2009 -- Five IAFF members received degrees during the National Labor College’s (NLC) 11th commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 27, 2009 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Michael Mullins and Paul Pureza both of Virginia Beach, VA Local 2924, Michael Rogers of Charlottesville, VA Local 2363, Tracey LaBass of Prince William County, VA Local 2598 and Chris Anderson of Tucson, AZ Local 479 were among the 102 graduates who earned bachelor’s degrees in various labor studies disciplines.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis delivered this year’s commencement address. In the address she announced the creation of nearly 670 new jobs to fulfill the Department of Labor’s mission to protect and advance the rights and opportunities of workers. Solis, the daughter of union member parents, was confirmed as Secretary in February 2009.

The graduating IAFF members all reported that they were able to immediately apply what they had learned at the NLC to their jobs. Local 2363 HazMat Team leader Rogers earned a degree in labor health and safety with an emphasis on hazardous materials. Pureza and Anderson also earned degrees in labor health and safety, while LaBass earned a degree in labor studies.

Local 2924 fire fighter Michael Mullins

Local 2924 fire fighter Mullins, who is the first member of his family to earn a college degree, was selected as one of two class speakers who addressed their fellow graduates and attendees. United Association (UA) of Plumbers and Pipefitters member Jeff Zubler also spoke.

Mullins, who earned a degree in labor health and safety, says, “In my remarks, I discussed how my time at the NLC gave me a new appreciation of the labor movement as a whole, and how the college is uniquely designed to help union members like me further their education.”

Local 2363 fire fighter Michael Rogers

Rogers earned his degree, in part, by receiving academic credit for some of the IAFF hazardous materials training courses he had taken. The IAFF, as a union partner to the NLC, offers courses through the Partnership Education Program (PEP) and Hazardous Material/Weapons of Mass Destruction training programs that have been assessed for credit.

The NLC is the nation’s only accredited higher education institution devoted exclusively to educating union leaders, members and activists. Originally founded by the AFL-CIO in 1969 as the George Meany Center for Labor Studies, the center became a degree-granting college in 1997. For more information about the NLC, its programs and admissions and graduation requirements, click here. 

The IAFF offers three scholarships annually for members pursuing studies at the NLC. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition for one semester (up to nine credits), room and board, and provides $1,000 for travel and incidental expenses. For more information about the NLC IAFF scholarship, click here.