Washington, D.C. – March 17, 2014 – UFCW International President Joseph T. Hansen has announced that the 2014 UFCW International Scholarship Program application process is now open to eligible applicants across North America. For over 45 years the UFCW International Union has awarded union scholarships to recognize UFCW members and their dependents.

As part of the union scholarship program, the UFCW awards several scholarships of up to $8,000 each to UFCW members or their unmarried dependents to cover post-secondary tuition fees over a period of four years. For 2014, the scholarship application will be available online until June 20th and the International will award one scholarship to a UFCW Canada member.

The scholarships are available to any UFCW member who has been active since February 1, 2013, as well as the unmarried children or dependents of active members. Winners will be selected based on scholastic achievements, community involvement, and an essay that shows an understanding of the principles of the labour movement. Scholarship recipients will receive annual payments of $2,000 for each year that they are enrolled in an accredited college or university for up to four years. The winners' names will be posted on the UFCW website.   

Last year UFCW Canada Local Union 175 member Nicholas Chun, who works at the Zehrs grocery store in Barrie, won the prestigious UFCW International Scholarship.

As UFCW International President Joseph T. Hansen explains, "our union stands for more than just improving our members' pay and protecting good jobs. The UFCW is about workers coming together to build better lives for themselves and to pursue important opportunities. That's why each year the UFCW awards several scholarships to UFCW members and their unmarried dependents."

To find out more about the scholarship program's eligibility requirements, please visit www.ufcw.org/scholarship. You can also e-mail any questions about the program to scholarship@ufcw.org.