Unions help working families fulfill their dreams in many different ways. At SEIU, this includes yearly college scholarship opportunities.

Through five different scholarship programs, SEIU awards 52 scholarships that enable SEIU members and their children to pursue their educational goals at accredited colleges, universities, and technical schools.

SEIU's scholarships are open to SEIU members or their children. The John Geagan Scholarship is also open to local union staff. Membership must be for three continuous years as of September 1, 2009. All awards must be for the academic year(s) awarded. Scholarships will be awarded without regard to the sex, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or disability of any applicant. Scholarship awards are limited to one per household.

Officers and employees of the International union and their children are not eligible. Graduate students are not eligible.

Application Process

Applications are available starting November 17, 2008 from your local union office, by contacting SEIU's scholarship administrator, ISTS, at www.applyists.net or from this website. You will need an access key to retrieve an application. See the description of each scholarship for the access key.

Applications can be filed online at www.applyists.net or mailed to:

SEIU (name of scholarship)
ISTS
P.O. Box 23737
Nashville, TN 37202-3737

Applications must be filed online by midnight March 2, 2009 or postmarked March 2, 2009.

» SEIU Lottery Scholarship Program (Access Key: SEIU)
The SEIU Scholarship Program offers 48 $1,000 and $1,500 scholarships. All applicants must read Changing Workers' Lives, SEIU 2007 Annual Report and then correctly answer all the questions on the SEIU Scholarship Program application form in order to qualify for a lottery drawing selection process.

» SEIU Moe Foner Scholarship Program For Visual and Performing Arts (Access Key: SEIMF)
SEIU is proud to offer a scholarship that continues the life work of the late Moe Foner, the founder of the SEIU 1199 Bread and Roses Cultural Project. Foner used his energy and imagination to tap into New York's thriving artistic community and brought new resonance to union concerts, exhibits, and publications. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually to SEIU members and their children who are pursuing a degree or full-time training in the visual or performing arts.

» SEIU Jesse Jackson Scholarship Program (Access Key: SEIJJ)
The $5,000 SEIU Jesse Jackson scholarship is awarded to a student whose work and aspirations for economic and social justice reflect the values and accomplishments of the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

» John Geagan Scholarships (Access Key: SEIJG)
The John Geagan scholarship is open to members, their children or local union staff who want to pursue a degree in labor studies. The scholarship is for $5,000 each to be expended over a 24-month period.

» SEIU Nora Piore Scholarship Program
The Nora Piore Scholarship is offered to those SEIU members and their children who wish to pursue a career in the health care field. It is a $4,375 scholarship renewable for up to four years. This scholarship will re-open in 2010 - 2011.