USEP Scholarships

Instructional Scholarship Award

The USEP Instructional Scholarship Award is open to all Instructional USEP members who have maintained continuous membership for a minimum of 2 years and are pursuing an advanced degree in Education or Labor Relations.

The scholarship is a grant award of $1000 to be used for the 2026-27 academic year. The application for the 2026-27 Instructional Scholarship Award will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

United School Employees of Pasco Jim Jennings SRP Scholarship Award

The USEP SRP Scholarship Award is open to all SRP USEP members who have maintained continuous membership for a minimum of 2 years and are pursuing a degree in Education or Labor Relations.

The scholarship is a grant award of $1000 to be used for the 2026-27 academic year. The application for the 2026-27 SRP Scholarship Award will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

USEP Postsecondary Scholarship Award

The USEP Postsecondary Scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior whose parent(s) or guardian(s) is/are members of USEP and have maintained continuous membership for a minimum of 2 years.

The scholarship is a grant award of $1000 to be used for the 2026-27 academic year. The application for the 2026-27 Postsecondary Scholarship Award will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Affiliate Scholarships

One of the many benefits of USEP membership is the availability of scholarships from its affiliates. Check out the websites listed below to download applications and specific eligibility information or call the USEP office. All scholarships require the applicant to be either a dependent of a member or a member in good standing of USEP.

Union Plus Scholarship

The application deadline for the Union Plus Scholarship is Jan. 31, 2026. Click here for more information. If you have submitted an application, please see below for for information about the award date and notifications to scholarship recipients.

Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $4.8 million to students of union families. Over 2,800 union families have benefited from our commitment to higher education.

This program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, which is sponsored by Union Privilege.

The Union Plus Education Foundation is funded in part by donations from Capital One N.A., 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.)

Award amounts: $500 to $4,000. These one-time cash awards are for study beginning in the Fall of 2026.  Students may re-apply each year.

Award date: The 2026 Scholarship Winners will be announced the first week of June.

Eligibility criteria:

• Current and retired members of unions participating in any Union Plus program, their spouses and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations) are eligible. Grandchildren are not eligible unless a legal dependent (as defined by IRS regulations). At least one year of continuous union membership by the applicant, applicant’s spouse or parent (if applicant is a dependent). The one year membership minimum must be satisfied by May 31 of the scholarship year.
• Members of participating unions from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
• The applicant must be accepted into a U.S. accredited college, university, community college, technical or trade school at the time the award is issued.  Awards must be used for the 2026 – 2027 school year.
• Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.

Isaiah’s Award

Isaiah’s Award was created to honor the exceptional life of Isaiah C., a beloved child, fostered and adopted by a current, long-time employee of Union Plus. Isaiah was a smart, talented, spiritual, generous and kind young man. It is our wish that his gentle spirit live on, in part, through this namesake scholarship.

Applicants for Isaiah’s Award must have a special connection to the foster care system, and will be asked in their application to describe their personal, employment, volunteer experiences, or career goals related to the foster care system.

Robert G. Porter Scholarship

A mix of national AFT contributions and voluntary contributions from AFT affiliates, members and friends make the scholars program possible for two purposes: to encourage members in good standing to learn more about labor or further their own career, and to support members’ dependents who wish to pursue a career in labor, education, health care or government service.

This program offers four 4-year, $8,000 post-secondary scholarships to students who are dependents of AFT members, as well as 10 one-time $1,000 grants to AFT members to assist with their continuing education.

Applications are now open! Apply here before 4/18/25.

Click here to view eligibility requirements and more information about the scholarship program.