Four Webster, NY students win CSEA scholarships

Webster, NY area students win CSEA Scholarships
On June 1, four Webster area students were presented checks for $1,000 in college scholarship prize money at a picnic supper banquet at Liberty Lodge, Finn Park, Webster, NY. From left to right: Trevor Maciejewski (Webster Thomas HS), Erica Blair (Webster Thomas HS) and Austin Ocwieja (Webster Schroeder HS). Not pictured is second year scholarship award winner Jacqueline Gier, who will be attending SUNY-ESF this fall. Photo by Ove Overmyer, ©2015

Four Webster area students win CSEA Scholarships

Webster, N.Y.—On Monday, June 1, CSEA Monroe County Local 828 Executive Board and the Local 828 Scholarship Committee hosted the 22nd Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner at Liberty Lodge at Finn Park, 850 Maple Dr., Webster, N.Y.

At the picnic supper, Local and Unit officers formally announced the winners of the CSEA Local 828 George M. Growney Memorial Scholarships and Unit 7400 Scholarship Awards for 2015. This year, $10,000.00 was awarded to deserving area students whose parents or caregivers are members in good standing of CSEA Monroe County Local 828. Four students from Webster High Schools landed scholarship prize money.

Mr. Growney was a long time local labor leader and activist. He was employed as a probation officer with Monroe County. He served as local president for nearly two decades before his retirement in 1995. George had a passion for kids to succeed, and would be proud that his union brothers and sisters have carried on his legacy of love and commitment to youth. George M. Growney died on August 10, 1997. The scholarship program was named in his honor in 1998—one year after his passing.

A $1,000 second year scholarship was awarded to Jacqueline Gier, who spent her college freshman year at Niagara University, NY. She will be transferring to SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Syracuse, NY majoring in Environmental Studies.

Erica Blair, a senior at Webster Thomas High School, was awarded a first year $1,000 scholarship and will be attending North Carolina’s Duke University this fall.

Austin Ocwieja, a senior at Webster Schroeder High School, was awarded a first year $1,000 scholarship and will be attending the University of Buffalo, NY to study Mechanical Engineering.

Trevor Maciejewski, a senior at Webster Thomas High School, was awarded a first year $1,000 scholarship and will be majoring in Psychology at St. John Fisher College, Rochester, NY this fall.

“This is one of the best things we do as union activists,” said Bess Watts, President of Local 828. She added, “It’s very rewarding to know we are helping our young people succeed in life.”

The scholarship committees have reviewed thousands of applications in the past 22 years, which demonstrates the significant need of financial resources for young adults continuing their formal education. Scholarships applicants are judged on academic achievement, a written essay, financial need and potential.

Since 1993, CSEA Local 828 has awarded over $140,000 in scholarship prize money. In 1993, the Monroe County Employees Unit 7400, the largest Unit in the Local, created their own scholarship program and have distributed more than $23,000.