The National Federation of Federal Employees is proud to announce Tyler Shuey and Sheryl Wood as winners of the 2013 Richard N. Brown Memorial Scholarship competition. Each will receive $1000 to supplement their college education and help pursue their aspirations in labor.
For Wood, a NFFE Local 1450 member and 31-yeat HUD employee from Fountain Hills, Arizona, the scholarship was a welcome reprieve from years of frozen pay and costly furlough days.
“It is with sincere appreciation and gratitude that I extend a heartfelt thank you for the NFFE scholarship award,” said Wood. “This award couldn’t have come at a better time. After experiencing several furlough days which have diminished my pay, the award is even more meaningful.”
Wood is currently pursuing her degree at Scottsdale Community College and has maintained an excellent 3.75/4.0 GPA. She is entering her Senior year and expects to graduate in the coming year.
Tyler Shuey, son of NFFE Local 642 member Melissa Shuey, is entering his sophomore year at Southwestern Oregon Community College. When asked what the award meant to him, Tyler shared the quote that inspired him to pursue this opportunity:
“The circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” He added, “Coming from a modest upbringing, I understand the value of $1,000.00. Thank you for this honor – it is much appreciated.”
“These two individuals and this program are what unionism is all about,” said NFFE National President William R. Dougan. “We came together to fund a scholarship and advance the prospects of those who we may not have met, but care for nonetheless. I am so proud of them and you for all your work to make this scholarship a reality.”
The Scholarship Fund is named in honor of late NFFE National President Richard N. Brown, a tireless advocate on behalf of the federal workforce. Brown served as national president from 1998 until his untimely passing in 2009. Soon after NFFE teamed up with the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) to ensure that Rick’s legacy of labor innovation was passed on to generations to come. To learn more about NFFE’s member-only scholarship program, visit www.nffe.org/scholarships.
