The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) is now accepting applications, and the deadline is March 1, 2025.

All applications must be completed through the online portal on the Fund’s website, www.jrhmsf.org. This JRHMSF website outlines eligibility requirements and application procedures, and applicants must complete a brief registration process to access the registration area.

JRHMSF scholarship award amounts vary: Academic Scholarships (college/university) range up to $10,000 over four years; Bootstrap Scholarships are $1,000 for one year; and Vocational/ Training  Scholarships range up to $2,000 depending on financial need. Full details and eligibility requirements for each type of scholarship are available on the JRHMSF website at the link above.

For general questions about the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund, please call (855) 670-4787 or email: contactus@applyISTS.com or JRHfund@gmail.com.

The BLET Auxiliary Scholarship Program was established at the International Convention in 1981. The program provides $1,000 scholarships to the sons and daughters of both Auxiliary and BLET members, with each having at least one year of concurrent membership. An exception has been made for those children of single-parent BLET members with at least one year of membership in the BLET and at least one year of membership as a BLET Auxiliary Associate Member.

A portion of each Auxiliary member’s dues goes into the scholarship fund. Additional funds are raised through a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year, including donations from local auxiliaries and donations from private donors. 

In addition, BLET Auxiliary members with one year of membership, who wish to pursue higher education will now be eligible to submit scholarship applications as well.

All applicants must be accepted by or enrolled at an accredited university, college, trade school, or institution of higher learning. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic record, leadership, character, and personal achievement. To continue to be eligible for a scholarship beyond the first quarter/semester, the recipient must maintain a satisfactory academic status.

The Auxiliary is now offering two $2,500 scholarships annually that are fully funded by Locomotive Engineers and Conductors Mutual Protective Association (LECMPA). In order to qualify for these LECMPA-funded scholarships, the applicant’s parent who is a BLET member must also be a member of LECMPA for no less than one year. The LECMPA-funded scholarships will be awarded to the two applicants who score the highest amongst those who qualify (by having one parent who is an Auxiliary member for at least one year, and one parent who is a BLET member and LECMPA member for at least one year). If an applicant meets the eligibility requirements for the LECMPA-funded scholarships but is not selected for one of the two $2,500 scholarships, he/she will still be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship.

Completed applications must be received by BLET Auxiliary Secretary Jodi Wallace by April 1, 2025. Applications received after that date will not be considered.

For questions, please contact Jodi Wallace (jwallace.bletaux@yahoo.com). Applications, instructions for scholarships, and a mailing address for submission may be found on the Auxiliary website at www.bletauxiliary.net .

The BLET’s Illinois State Legislative Board is currently accepting applications for its Don Little Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established in 2013.

Up to three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to applicants whose parent or guardian is a BLET member in good standing with a BLET Division represented by the Illinois State Legislative Board (IL SLB). Applicants must be 26 years of age or younger.

Brother Don Little was a locomotive engineer with Metra commuter rail in Chicago and a proud member of Division 294 (Bensenville, Ill.) for 35 years. Brother Little served for more than 10 years on the Executive Committee of the IL SLB and always dreamed of establishing a scholarship program for the family members of fellow Brothers and Sisters who belonged to divisions chartered in Illinois. Unfortunately, Brother Little passed away before his dream was realized.

In 2013, The IL SLB executive board helped make Brother Little’s dream a reality.

Scholarship applications and all accompanying documents must be received by May 1, 2025. Specific eligibility requirements, detailed instructions and application forms are available for download from the BLET National Division website. 

For questions or assistance completing the application, contact Joyce A. Piekarski, Selection Committee Chairperson at (630) 963-6099 or Joyce.Piekarski@gmail.com.

BLET Division 188 in Superior, Wisconsin, is proud to announce the fifth year of its scholarship program dedicated to the memory of Clyde Larson — a devoted rail, union leader, and mentor to many — whose untimely passing in 2017 left a void in the local railroad community.

Division 188 raises scholarship funds through the efforts of the Clyde Larson Memorial Scholarship (CLMS) Committee. Fundraising events are planned throughout the year and BLET members and their families are encouraged to participate (and to suggest other methods of raising funds toward this worthy cause).Eligible applicants include the children (or children under the permanent care of) current BLET Division 188 members who are attending any post-secondary education (college, trade school, union apprenticeship program, etc.). Total monetary awards distributed will not be less than $1,000, and the number of winners is determined based on qualifying applications received. Scholarships are awarded to applicants chosen at random at Division 188’s regular meeting each August.

Applications will be emailed to all Division 188 members on the Division’s email list. Those who have not received an application by June 20, 2025, should email Division 188 Local Chairman Steven Moerke at: steven.moerke@gmail.com . 

Applications must be postmarked or received by August 15, 2025, 2359 hours.

The Brotherhood’s Relief and Compensation Fund (BR&CF) is pleased to provide opportunities for the sons and daughters of BR&CF members to participate in the Luther G. Smith Scholarship Program.

Children, including adopted and step-children, of BR&CF members who are in “Good and Regular Standing,” are eligible. Applicants must be 27 years of age or younger. Applicants may be current high school students who have applied for admission as full-time students in accredited post-secondary schools or may be attending or enrolled as full-time students in accredited post-secondary schools.

International President Jesse Taylor advises that 20 scholarships of $2,500 each are awarded every year.

The BR&CF’s 2025 scholarship program commenced on October 1, 2024, with applications due on March 1, 2025. The scholarship application is available by visiting BR&CF’s website at www.brcf.org.

Union Plus awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 209 union members and union family members in the 2024 Union Plus Scholarship Program. Individual awards ranged from $500 to $4,000. The deadline is January 31 each year. It is expected that applications for 2026 will be available in mid-June 2025.

Rising education costs are making it difficult for many union families to afford the cost of tuition. That’s one reason Union Plus, which provides important consumer benefits to union members and retirees, offers a unique scholarship program. It has distributed more than $5.4 million in scholarships to over 3,800 union members and their children since 1991. Recipients are selected based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.

The students selected for university, college, trade or technical school scholarships represent a wide sampling of backgrounds, union affiliations, goals and accomplishments. The selection process is very competitive since Union Plus receives over 5,000 applications each year. The Union Plus Scholarship Program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, supported in part by contributions from the provider of the Union Plus Credit Card. You do not need to be a Union Plus Credit Card holder to apply for this scholarship.

Visit the Union Plus website to learn more.