NAPE/AFSCME member Rajeana Harris, a Community Support Specialist for the Department of Health and Human Services, recently won the AFSCME Union Plus scholarship.
Rajeana is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Psychology at Peru State College while also working full time for DHHS. She plans on graduating next August and hopes to enter a Masters program for counseling.
“Peru State has a really good online program so I can do it at my own pace and work it around my work and personal life,” she said. “It’s hectic right now so I’m really looking forward to reaching that finish line.”
Rajeana learned about the Union Plus scholarship through a flyer in the mail that explained more about the AFSCME Advantage benefits available to our members. She said the application process was very straightforward.
“I answered questions about what was motivating me to go to school and also talked about being a NAPE member, why I valued union membership, and how unions have made an impact in my life,” she said. “In the application, I talked a lot about my dad, who was a lifelong city employee and union member. Without his union and the benefits he had access to like quality insurance and leave benefits, we wouldn’t have been able to go on vacations and have access to healthcare when I was young. So, in that way, unions have always been making a big impact on my life.”
Rajeana is grateful for the financial help that the Union Plus scholarship affords her. She plans to use the scholarship money to buy books and put whatever is left over toward paying for her tuition.
“I always wanted to get my degree but put it on hold when I was young,” she said. “I took time off and started a family and then waited until my kids were in school but it’s exciting to be back.”
Applications for the 2025 Union Plus scholarship are due at the end of January 2025. Additionally, AFSCME offers opportunities for family members to win scholarships – check out our story about a NAPE member’s daughter who recently won the AFSCME Family Scholarship.
