Winners were randomly selected for the 30th Annual Florence Bernard/Alta Miller Scholarship Drawing in mid-June.
The event is normally held during a dinner gathering held at the end of the now combined Local Union Officers Meeting, Joint Apprenticeship Committee Conference and Master Apprentice Competition (MAC). Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the entire week long event was cancelled, including the scholarship dinner.
Despite the event being cancelled, the International was committed to preserving the tradition of awarding the scholarship funds and decided to hold a more private drawing.
On June 11, the drawing took place at the International Office in Maryland, with International staff and officers and General Executive Board attending via zoom to pull 20 names in a random, basket-style drawing to receive the scholarship.
This also marked the first year where scholarship entries were submitted online through the Member Services portal.
Individuals eligible to enter the scholarship drawing include members of the HFIAW, their spouses and/or children, who are continuing their education at an accredited college or university, community college, trade or technical school for the 2020-2021 school year. Each scholarship recipient will receive $5,000 toward their educational endeavors.
The scholarship fund was established in 1990 from the proceeds raised during a dinner for the late General President Emeritus William G. Bernard that was held in St. Louis.
During the 2007 Convention, delegates voted to perpetually fund the scholarship by the general membership at a rate of one-half of 1 cent per hour worked. At the 2017 Convention, a resolution was passed to raise the hourly contribution to 1 cent per hour worked, beginning on Jan. 1, 2020 to ensure the financial stability of the fund.
“Though we cannot be together to celebrate the dedication of General President Emeritus William G. Bernard, his mother and mother-in-law, to education and to continuing the advancement for our members and their families, we are proud to continue this tradition and honor the members of our Union, who have contributed to the fund,” said General President James McCourt.
All scholarship winners will be notified and an article highlighting the winners will appear in the Fall Journal.