Union Student Awarded Scholarship from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825
(above) Nicholas Rocha of Union, who was one of ten scholarship recipients from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825.
Members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 have awarded $10,000 scholarships to ten graduating high school seniors entering college this fall. Nicholas Rocha of Union was one of those recipients this year.
The scholarship money was raised by Local 825 members over a 12-month period through a series of fundraising activities, including a golf outing, a sporting-clays rifle shoot, a dinner dance and a motorcycle “Poker Run.”
“We hope that these awards will help students reach their potential through higher education,” said Greg Lalevee, Local 825’s Business Manager. “Given the ever-increasing costs involved, these scholarships mean a lot to the families who receive them.”
Seven scholarships were awarded on the basis of academic performance and three were awarded for achievements in athletics, service and understanding of union values.
Nicholas Rocha of Union is the son of Orlando Rocha and a graduate of Roselle Catholic High School. He is the winner of the Outstanding Understanding and Appreciation of Unionism and Labor Movement Scholarship. During high school, Nicholas volunteered his time at his school’s food bank, and at the Connecticut Farms Church food pantry. He will attend Seton Hall University in the fall to study Biology. His ultimate goal is to work in the field of genetics.
The Local 825 Scholarship Program is administered by a team of educators from Rutgers University, headed by Carla A. Katz, Esq., and James Cooney, Esq. The Rutgers team evaluated more than 40 applicants this year, based on transcripts, SAT scores, individual essays and letters of recommendation.
Headquartered in Springfield, Local 825 of the International Union of Operating Engineers represents more than 7,000 members throughout New Jersey and in five counties of lower New York State, including Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware.
Submitted by Bill Carlos
