The Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship is now in its 13th year. This program is designed to assist deserving mail handlers and/or their immedi-ate family with the difficult task of financing the cost of higher education. Each NPMHU region has been granted a total of 3 scholarships in the amount of $1,000. Each scholarship is renewable for the recipient for up to 4 years or until the completion of the students’ undergraduate degree, whichever occurs first—for a maximum of $4,000 per recipient.

The Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship program began in 2001; the goal of the scholarship program is to help enrich the lives of the unions’ members through the pursuit of higher learning while also assisting finan-cially in these times of financial uncertainty. Times have certainly changed since 2001 when this program began and the pure challenge of obtain-ing the funds for higher education has become a serious burden on mail handlers and their families. Arthur S. Vallone had an intense and abiding respect for his Union, and cared deeply for Mail Handlers and their families, it’s only fitting that we continue this tradition in his memory.

Earlier this year, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Scholarship Committee completed its duty of choosing the new set of Vallone Scholars for the 2012–2013 year. Once again this year the National Office received well over 200 applications. Each application received consisted of the appli-cant having to: Fill out a questionnaire, request and submit transcripts, submit 2 letters of reference and submit a Completed Essay. (Written essay

of no more than 500 words describing the applicant’s life experiences, extra-curricular activities, work history, and aspirations.)

The National Office continues to hear from past Vallone Scholars who have either graduated and/or are excelling in their programs of study however this year one of our new Vallone Scholars achieved a goal that no other Vallone Scholar has and was awarded not only the Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship but also the AFL-CIO/Union Plus Dreams of Jobs and Freedom Scholarship. Javier Mery of Sterling Virginia (Local 305) managed to juggle several Honor Society classes with his intense swim team training along with playing piano and participating in several volunteer activities as a senior in High School. Javier is now a freshman at The University of Virginia studying to be a neurosurgeon. In his application he stated the reason for wanting to become a doctor; it read “They battle death on a daily basis. They repair, heal, and maintain our bodies because they have a strong desire to help others.” Both awards will certainly lend some much needed assistance to a well-deserved student.

Applications and details about the NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship for the 2013–2014 school years will be available in late November 2013. For details you may contact either your Local Union or the NPMHU National Union Headquarters, or you can download the scholarship application from the National Union website at www.npmhu.org.

Vallone Scholars: Success Stories

By: Noah L. Giebel – Scholarship Program CoordinatorNoah GiebelArthur S. Vallone

Abeyratna Chandupa Local 300

Northeastern Region

Crystal Gómez-Estrada Local 313

David Picariello Local 301

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Central Region

Western Region

Eastern Region

Southern Region

Amanda Maria Yeager Local 322

Javier Mery Local 305

Katie Gilmour Local 308

Daniel Li Local 302

Esther Noh Local 316

Hardeep Ahdi Local 303

Elaine Duong Local 310

Fabian Williams Local 329

Heather Nolf Local 318

Abigail Montgomery Local 333

Alison Loken Local 323

Jennifer Goeman Local 307

The Mail Handler | 13National Postal Mail Handlers Union The Mail Handler | 13National Postal Mail Handlers Union

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