UNION SCHOLARSHIPS

AFT 1493 Scholarship winners for 2016

by Teeka James, AFT 1493 President and Doniella Maher, Cañada AFT Executive Committe Rep.

AFT is pleased to announce our 2016 winners of the AFT 1493 Scholarships ($1000 each): Joseph Bass, of Cañada College, and David Rango, of College of San Mateo.

Joseph Bass (pictured below) has shown incredible commitment to social justice issues on the Cañada College campus and, in particular, to bringing students, faculty and staff together in this process.  He is involved in the Academic Committee for Equity and Success (ACES) and has helped launch a student club, Namaste, which focuses on bringing attention to social justice issues on the campus including recommending curriculum changes in California, connecting with inmates in juvenile hall and prisons to make change, and bringing attention to human trafficking in our community.

A sophomore at College of San Mateo, David Rango (pictured below) has demonstrated significant commitment to issues of equity and social justice in his community. David interrupted his college education to spend two years serving his church in Italy. David identifies his time in Italy as the most important years of his life so far; he says this about the experience: “I really learned how to love others and serve them. I learned that material things don’t bring happiness, but helping those around you brings happiness.” In his community here at home, he helps organize youth activities through his church and has done internships focused on summer activities and education projects for youth in San Mateo county. David has been very active on his campus as well, both as a student and an athlete. David is an alumnus of CSM’s Writing in the End Zone learning community, a current member of CSM’s Mana learning community, and a member of the CSM football team. David, a Bay Area native, is the first in his family to attend college.

Joe McDonough AFT Social Justice Scholarship awarded

by Susan McDonough, daughter of Joe McDonough (former CSM psychology professor) and creator of the Joe McDonough AFT Scholarship, which honors her father’s years of activism in AFT 1493 and his commitment to social justice

The family of Joe McDonough and AFT 1493 are pleased to announce this year’s recipient of the Joe McDonough AFT Social Justice Scholarship ($5000).

Skyline student Patricia Ann Manubay (pictured below) is the winner for the 2015-2016 school year.  Her opening words in her essay were, “At a young age I knew I had big dreams of changing the world… I fell in love with two of the most unpopular hobbies: writing and community service.”

Believing that the aim of education is not just knowledge but action, Patricia has accomplished much in her short life.   A recipient of numerous public service awards in high school and at Skyline, Patricia is a member of the Dead Beat Writers club and works with the Skyline View Newspaper.  Majoring in psychology, she plans to transfer to USF or Berkeley and continuing her work.

Last year Patricia won a national competition called Lead360 for her Dream Boxes, stemming from her experience with bullying, self-doubt, and her love for education and writing. The actual Dream Boxes were filled with school and art supplies, and a letter of encouragement.  By the end of High School to the end of her first semester at Skyline, she was able to distribute over 50,000 Dream Boxes to families, schools, and students in the United States and the Philippines.

Congratulations Patricia Ann!