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Sophia Lombardo has always felt like she was destined to work in the nonprofit world. Her mother gave birth to Sophia’s older brother at 16 and later became the first member of her family to graduate from college, which gave Sophia firsthand experience with economic mobility and led to her interest in helping others.

Lombardo received a full-tuition scholarship to Earlham College through the Bonner Scholar Program, which seeks students who want to change the world through service and asks them to work in the community 10 hours a week.

But Lombardo was still on the hook for room and board, and she borrowed to cover the cost. Shortly before graduating with a business and nonprofit-management degree, she learned about a federal student-loan forgiveness program that would eventually cancel her college debt if she worked long enough in nonprofits or public service.

Shop union-made cars this Presidents’ Day with the Union Plus Auto Buying Service. Search and compare new or used vehicles from popular brands to find a car that fits your budget and lifestyle. Plus, don’t miss your union-member benefits:

• Ready to sell your car? Get a cash offer from a local dealer in minutes.

• $100 rebate on new union-made cars*

• Remote paperwork and vehicle delivery options available

Get up to $2,000 in Auto Repair and Auto Deductible Reimbursements**

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Disclaimer:
*If you purchase a new, qualifying union-assembled vehicle, you will receive a gift card for $100 within 6 to 8 weeks after purchase. (The gift cards come from Union Plus and not from the dealer). Union Plus receives a monthly report on the sales activity from the program provider to verify that a gift card should be sent to a member who purchased a qualifying vehicle. This process is automatic, there are no forms to complete. Keep a copy of your Union Plus Auto Buying referral email that can assist in researching your purchase if you think you qualified for a rebate but did not receive a gift card.
**Some benefits not available in NY or NH. Terms and conditions apply. Auto Deductible Reimbursement is provided by Voyager Indemnity Insurance Company, an Assurant company.

Members of the Hawaii Nurses’ Association (HNA), an affiliate of the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), began a weeklong strike on Sunday demanding a fair contract and an end to unsafe staffing ratios at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. 

Why It Matters:
Nurses at the community hospital say that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve been overwhelmed with patient numbers, leading to high rates of burnout among staff and negative impact on patient care. This is the issue that lies at the core of HNA’s unfair labor practice strike after months of failed contract negotiations with management.

“We just want the management to bargain with us. They’re not bargaining in good faith. It’s their way or the highway, and that’s not bargaining,” Paulette Vasu, HNA treasurer and a labor and delivery nurse at Kapiolani, said.

Students from union families applying for or currently attending college, university, technical or trade school also can apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $4,000.

Joanna Escalante (left) is a California School Employees Association (CSEA) member and a candidate for a master’s in sociology. Escalante hopes to become an instructor at the community college where she currently serves as an administrative assistant. She has a special interest and background in working with students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness. Baylor Sampson (center) grew up in a union family. His father has been an Ironworkers member in Ohio for more than 30 years. Sampson is majoring in computer science with the goal of working in cybersecurity and protecting people like his grandparents, who endured financial strain after an online security breach. Sampson’s dedication to his work inspired him to be passionate about his own educational path. Chareese Miller (right), a competitive soccer player and an exercise science major, has an ultimate goal. It is to become a physical therapist. Her mother is an AFGEmember in Atlanta. Miller said her desire to help others stems from her mother’s AFGE involvement as a steward and local vice president.

Current and retired union members, their spouses and their dependent children are eligible to apply for a Union Plus Scholarship. Applications are due Jan. 31 by noon ET. Learn more and apply at unionplus.org/scholarship