Union Plus awards 17 scholarships to IAFF members, their spouses, and children

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.”

Michael Binney
West Metro, CO Local 1309
[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Zachary Byington
Oak Park, IL Local 95

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Lindsay Gneiting
South Davis Metro, UT Local 5143

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Matthew Holuj
Dekalb, IL Local 1236

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Madison Leann Johnson
Cambridge, OH Local 910

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Nicholas Jones
Anne Arundel County, MD Local 1563

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Joshua Lee Klein
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Local F-88

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Michael Manns
Overland Park, KS Local 48

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Travis Reagan McAnally
Lake Travis, TX Local 4117

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]Travis Reagan McAnally, the son of Lake Travis, TX Local 4117 member Travis McAnally, received a scholarship to attend Texas A&M University to earn a degree in Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries. He plans to use that degree to become a Texas Game Warden, a goal he has had since he was in the third grade.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Makenna Milam
Fulton, MO Local 2945

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]Makenna Milam, the daughter of Fulton, MO Local 2945 member Jeremy Milam, was awarded a scholarship to attend Grand Canyon University where she plans to focus on marketing and advertising.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Jordan Morgan
Springfield, IL Local 37

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]Jordan Morgan, the daughter of Springfield, IL Local 37 member Donald Morgan, has received a scholarship to major in environmental studies with minors in pre-law and global studies at Illinois College. Her career goal is to become an environmental lawyer. Morgan comes from a strong union family. Not only is her dad a union member, but her mother, Robin Morgan, is a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), her uncle is also an IAFF Local 37 member, another uncle is a United Steelworkers (USW) member, and her grandfather was a union coal worker.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Briana Ortiz
Hawaiian Islands Local 1463

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]Briana Ortiz, the wife of Hawaiian Islands Local 1463 member Kamehalani Ortiz, has been awarded her second scholarship from Union Plus after receiving the first one last year. This scholarship will help her finish her bachelor’s degree this fall, which will bring her closer to achieving her goal of becoming an oncology nurse.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Jeremy Pepin
Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters (MSCFF) 2nd district vice president and Sedalia, MO Local 103

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]Jeremy Pepin, Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters (MSCFF) 2nd district vice president and Sedalia, MO Local 103 member, has received a scholarship to help him finish his degree in fire science at State Fair Community College. Afterward, he plans to work toward a bachelor’s degree in disaster and crisis management. Pepin, a driver/engine with the Sedalia Fire Department (SFD), is heavily invested in the fire service and the union. He has served in his MSCFF position, advocating on behalf of his fellow fire fighters, since 2019. And he is also an instructor for local fire academies and was named SFD Fire Fighter of the Year in 2017.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Austin Rae
Anne Arundel County, MD Local 1563

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Lanie Spivey
Irving, TX Local 2073

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Michael Virgadamo
Scottsdale, AZ Local 5050

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]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.[/bg_collapse_level2]

Hayden Wells
Northwich Township, OH Local 1723

[bg_collapse_level2 view=”link” color=”#000000″ icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Show Details” collapse_text=”Hide Details” ]Hayden Wells, the son of Northwich Township, OH Local 1723 member Jason Wells, has been awarded a scholarship. Wells will be attending Columbus State Community College where he will be working toward his paramedic certification. Afterward, he plans to continue his education with the eventual goal of becoming a fire fighter/paramedic.[/bg_collapse_level2]

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.

Travis Reagan McAnally, the son of Lake Travis, TX Local 4117 member Travis McAnally, received a scholarship to attend Texas A&M University to earn a degree in Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries. He plans to use that degree to become a Texas Game Warden, a goal he has had since he was in the third grade.

Makenna Milam, the daughter of Fulton, MO Local 2945 member Jeremy Milam, was awarded a scholarship to attend Grand Canyon University where she plans to focus on marketing and advertising.

Jordan Morgan, the daughter of Springfield, IL Local 37 member Donald Morgan, has received a scholarship to major in environmental studies with minors in pre-law and global studies at Illinois College. Her career goal is to become an environmental lawyer. Morgan comes from a strong union family. Not only is her dad a union member, but her mother, Robin Morgan, is a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), her uncle is also an IAFF Local 37 member, another uncle is a United Steelworkers (USW) member, and her grandfather was a union coal worker.

Briana Ortiz, the wife of Hawaiian Islands Local 1463 member Kamehalani Ortiz, has been awarded her second scholarship from Union Plus after receiving the first one last year. This scholarship will help her finish her bachelor’s degree this fall, which will bring her closer to achieving her goal of becoming an oncology nurse.

Jeremy Pepin, Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters (MSCFF) 2nd district vice president and Sedalia, MO Local 103 member, has received a scholarship to help him finish his degree in fire science at State Fair Community College. Afterward, he plans to work toward a bachelor’s degree in disaster and crisis management. Pepin, a driver/engine with the Sedalia Fire Department (SFD), is heavily invested in the fire service and the union. He has served in his MSCFF position, advocating on behalf of his fellow fire fighters, since 2019. And he is also an instructor for local fire academies and was named SFD Fire Fighter of the Year in 2017.

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.

Hayden Wells, the son of Northwich Township, OH Local 1723 member Jason Wells, has been awarded a scholarship. Wells will be attending Columbus State Community College where he will be working toward his paramedic certification. Afterward, he plans to continue his education with the eventual goal of becoming a fire fighter/paramedic.