Union Plus provides a host of consumer benefits and awards scholarships each year to union members or their families who plan to start or continue their post-secondary education.
This year, Union Plus awarded a total of $200,000 in scholarships to 205 students from 41 different unions. Six IAFF members, two spouses of IAFF members, and nine children of IAFF members were honored with awards ranging from $500 to $4,000.
“Congratulations to all of the winners,” said General President Edward Kelly. “I know they will do well as they pursue their academic goals. The sky is the limit for these incredibly motivated individuals.”
West Metro, CO Local 1309 member Michael Binney was awarded a scholarship to continue his pursuit of a degree in public health at Yale University. Binney hopes to use what he learns to address the disconnect between fire fighters/paramedics and public health practitioners in his community.
Zachary Byington, a member of Oak Park, IL Local 95, was awarded a scholarship to finish his Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. Byington hopes to be a physician’s assistant at Chicago’s John H. Stronger Jr. Hospital once he graduates.
Lindsay Gneiting, the wife of South Davis Metro, UT Local 5143 member Trevor Gneiting, was awarded a scholarship to continue her education at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). Gneiting plans to attend SLCC’s Physical Therapy Assistant program and pursue a career in the field.
Dekalb, IL Local 1236 member Matthew Holuj was awarded a scholarship to attend Kishwakee College and pursue his goal of becoming a nurse. Holuj is currently a fire fighter/paramedic for the Dekalb Fire Department and is known for always wanting to provide solutions for patient treatment and call management issues.
Madison Leann Johnson, daughter of Cambridge, OH Local 910 member Timothy Johnson, received a scholarship to attend Ohio State University where she plans to study to become an engineer. Johnson said in her application how much she appreciates what the IAFF has done for her family and others.
Nicholas Jones, the son of Anne Arundel County, MD Local 1563 member Mark Jones, was awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Maryland where he plans to major in mechanical engineering. He was among the top students in his high school’s graduating class, where he completed several Advanced Placement (AP) and honors science and math classes.
Joshua Lee Klein, son of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Local F-88 member Kevin Klein, received a scholarship to attend Ivy Tech where he plans to pursue a degree in paramedic science. Klein plans to follow that with a degree in fire science. With both degrees in hand, he will be able to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a fire fighter/paramedic at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Overland Park, KS Local 48 member Michael Manns has been awarded his second union plus scholarship after being awarded his first one last year. Manns is a Master of Arts in organizational leadership candidate with an emergency management leadership concentration at Waldorf University. He is a 13-year fire fighter who is currently going through the acting lieutenant program. He became an IAFF member upon joining OPFD and said becoming a union fire fighter has been the best decision of his professional life. In fact, he hopes to take on a leadership role within the union once he has finished his degree to serve as an advocate for his fellow fire fighters.
Anne Arundel County, MD Local 1563 member Austin Rae has been awarded a scholarship to help with his plans to attend the Pennsylvania College of Sciences for its paramedic certification program. Rae became interested in emergency service at an early age, earning his emergency medical technician (EMT) certification at age 16. Later, he joined the Anne Arundel County Fire Department and became a member of Local 1563.
Lanie Spivey, the daughter of Irving, TX Local 2073 member Charles Spivey, has been awarded a scholarship to attend Tarleton State University. Both of Spivey’s parents work in occupations that serve the community, her father, a fire fighter, and her mother, a school teacher. Lanie will be answering her own call to serve as she pursues a degree in nursing.
Michael Virgadamo, son of Scottsdale, AZ Local 5050 member Michael Virgadamo, was awarded a scholarship to attend Chandler Gilbert Community College where he plans to focus on aviation technology. His studies here will get him one step closer to realizing his dream of becoming a pilot.
