CWA Scholarship Makes Big Difference for UM Grad

Casey Schannauer on graduation day at the University of Minnesota.

CWA Vice President Ralph Maly thought this letter from a recipient of a CWA-Alcatel-Lucent scholarship was good reading for all of us:

Dear Mr. Maly and all communications workers represented by CWA:

First of all, thank you for sponsoring me with an Alcatel-Lucent CWA/IBEW scholarship over the past four years. This scholarship helped cover over 60 percent of my college tuition at the University of Minnesota-Carlson School of Management and was crucial to financing my continued education. I recently graduated on May 16 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Supply Chain/Operations Management. I chose this major in a hope to make a positive difference with the transportation of goods and services in a world where increasing energy prices are putting a bind on the current way of doing business.

Second, thank you to all workers represented by CWA. Without your continued resilience, there would be no scholarship program to benefit students whose parents work in the communications industry. It has been an honor to be represented by such a great organization. I'd also like to give a thank you to my stepfather, Scott Juusola of Minneapolis, Minn. He installs crucial infrastructure for Alcatel-Lucent's service parents and has kept me informed on what was going on at work for the past four years. Alcatel-Lucent ships him all over the country — from New Jersey to Texas — because they know he can get the job done right every time. I appreciate CWA for representing him through all his hard work and dedication. Workers like him deserve a lot!

College has been a great experience and I do not have a large amount of debt thanks to Alcatel-Lucent and CWA's sponsorship. I am currently obtaining full time employment and am excited to be entering business. In the future, I will be committed to upholding the status of unions to protect hardworking employees who are so important to our nation. Thank you again for the support over the past four years!

Sincerely,

Casey Schannauer