UNION SCHOLARSHIPS

College scholarships available to AFT members’ children & dependents

CFT Raoul Teilhet Scholarship Program

The CFT offers scholarships to high school seniors and college students who are children or dependents of CFT members in good standing. Students enrolled in four-year courses of study are eligible for $3000 scholarships; those enrolled in two-year courses of study are eligible for $1000.

About the program

The CFT Raoul Teilhet Scholarship Program began in 1997 when delegates to the CFT Convention voted to establish scholarships that could help children and dependents of members achieve their higher education goals. The program was named after inspirational CFT leader Raoul Teilhet, pictured above, circa 1972. Teilhet served the organization as president from 1968 to 1985. In 2003, Convention delegates extended eligibility to continuing college students and dependents of deceased CFT members.

Teilhet died in 2013; you can read about Raoul Teilhet’s life and contributions to the union in his obituary. Since the program was established in 1997, the CFT has helped hundreds of students achieve their higher education goals by awarding them Raoul Teilhet Scholarships.

Scholarship eligibility

Award selection is based on academic achievement, special talents and skills, participation in extracurricular activities, community service, financial need, and a 500-word essay on a social issue of the applicant’s choice.

Scholarships are awarded for any one year of higher education.

Students must be listed as a dependent on their parents’ or guardians’ tax return to be eligible for this scholarship.

Parents or guardians will be asked to have their local union president verify union membership.

Students who received scholarships as high school seniors are not eligible for another scholarship during college.

How to complete and submit your application

Click on appropriate link below (For high seniors or continuing college students) to access an application.

The scholarship applications contain complete instructions for submission; please read them carefully. Note: The applications are fillable pdf documents. Please complete the application electronically. This will ensure that you are able to fill out, make changes, save, and print your completed application.

For more information, or to get a hard copy of an application mailed to you, please email Liz Soto (esoto@cft.org), or phone our Costa Mesa Field Office at 714-754-6638.

Raoul Teilhet Scholarship application links and deadlines:

• For High School Seniors
  Deadline to submit applications: January 10, 2017
• For Continuing College Students
  Deadline to submit applications: July 1, 2017

National scholarships for members and dependents

More scholarships and professional grants are available to members and their dependents through the AFT and the AFL-CIO.

Robert G. Porter Scholarship Program

The AFT awards four $8000 scholarships to high school seniors who are dependents of AFT members, as well as 20 continuing education grants of $1000 to AFT members. Application deadline: March 31. To learn more, go to: aft.org/about/member-benefits/scholarships or email: porterscholars@aft.org.

Union Plus Scholarship Program

The AFL-CIO offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $4000 to union members, their spouses, and their dependents who are enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education. Scholarships are also available to graduate students. Application deadline: January 31. Learn more from the Union Plus scholarship web page.