WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For the 40th time, the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council has awarded scholarships to three deserving students who are advancing their future careers through education and training.  Pictured above, Members of the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council’s Executive Board pose with this year’s winners, from left to right: Samantha Haley; Abigail Murphy; and Shane Cushman.   (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(RANSOMVILLE, NEW YORK) – For the 40th time, the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s has awarded scholarships to three deserving students during its 2024 Awards Ceremony, held at the International Union of Operating Engineers’ Ransomville Union Hall.

“The Labor Movement ‘really believes in helping the younger generation,’” Niagara-Orleans Labor Council Jim Briggs told those in attendance as each recipient was given $1,000.  “‘It’s hard to find a good-paying job without an education and it is the Council’s hope your education will lead to doing something good (in the future) for the communities that you live in.’”

“These scholarships ‘are just another way the Labor Movement gives back to the community,’” Briggs continued. “We ‘help families in need’ at Christmas - (28) last year, ‘and we’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars at our yearly Labor’s Night at the Races event to help the United Way of Greater Niagara - who help people who run into problems.’”

Those students chosen for the scholarships had submitted winning essays on the Labor Movement, which a three-Member Council Selection Committee - consisting of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Member Beth Pyskaty (a Teacher in the Niagara-Wheatfield School District), Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168 Member Denise Abbott (who serves as President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and Secretary of the Niagara Council) and NYSUT Member Sean Nevins, making the final selections.

Receiving scholarships were:

Samantha Haley (pictured below), who is graduating from Lockport High School, received the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council Scholarship.  Haley, who was sponsored by the Lockport Teachers Association, plans on attending St. Bonaventure University where she will pursue a degree in Childhood Education.  Her winning essay was entitled: Why Do You Think Unions are Relevant?

Abigail Murphy (pictured below), who is presently attending Buffalo State College, received the Council’s President Scholarship.  Murphy, who was sponsored by Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 742, is pursuing a degree in Psychology, as well as a minor in Art Therapy.  Her winning essay was entitled: Why Do You Think Unions And Community Services Are Important?

Shane Cushman (pictured below), who is graduating from Newfane High School, received the Council’s Russell Quarantello Apprentice Scholarship, named after the late International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 Business Manager.  Cushman, who was sponsored by Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1115, is slated to attend a Building Trades Apprenticeship Program - at the Southeast Lineman Training Center.  His winning essay was entitled: Why Do You Think Unions And Community Services Are Important?

Echoing President Briggs remarks, Bill Jakobi - the United Way of Greater Niagara’s Labor Liaison to the Council, who also served as Master of Ceremonies, said: “It’s ‘hard to believe this Council has been giving out scholarships for the past (40) years, but the Labor Movement truly does believe in helping today’s youth by giving them an opportunity for a better future.’  ‘We are always working to create a path of prosperity for the next generation.’  Education is ‘very important’ for our kids.  It’s ‘very difficult to find a good-paying job without a college education - and even then you’re not guaranteed a decent’ job.  Our investment in education ‘is in the future of our great country, to provide the skills to keep America the number one place in the world to live.’  ‘We hope someday all our scholarship winners will become leaders, doing something great for the company they work for or for the community they live and work in.’  On behalf of the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council, ‘we wish all our scholarship winners the best of luck with your future endeavors.’”

Both Briggs and Jakobi also took time to recognize and thank the Council’s sponsor of this year’s scholarships, the Law Office of Lewis & Lewis PC.