America In Solidarity offers college scholarships to honor the memory of labor leader, activist and historian Ottilie Markholt. Ms. Markholt spoke at the 2004 May Day event about history of May Day and was one of the enduring labor figures in America In Solidarity's base city of Tacoma.
Our intention is to engage young people about the issues affecting working families by requiring an essay component to our scholarship. Over 400 applications were received for the Ottilie Markholt Memorial Scholarship this year. Every year, the quality of students and applications for the scholarship has improved greatly. You can click on the name to read the winning essays below.
Volunteers on our database will be notified in the Fall for the details about the 2009 scholarships.
Another banner crop of scholarship applications and essays were recently reviewed and AIS is proud to announce its 2009 scholarship winners. Our ad hoc scholarship committee met recently, read each essay, deliberated and argued till we reached consensus. "Each year it is an absolute pleasure to read the thoughtful, sometimes heartfelt and personal essays. My only regret is that we don't have tens of thousands of dollars to award as there are dozens of worthy applicants that deserve a scholarship," said Todd Iverson of America In Solidarity. Thanks to Iverson, Gail Ross, Mike Jagielski, and Mike and Kathy Collier for serving on this year's scholarship committee.
The winners are:
- Jocelyn Lam of Bothell, WA was awarded our top prize with a scholarship of $750. Jocelyn, a junior at the University of Washington, stood above everyone and wrote a brilliant essay about why Americans need health care reform now. She combined personal experience with amazing clarity that this is a matter of justice and argues its our moral responsibilty to fight for change.
- Jason Kingshott from Mt. Vernon, WA was awarded a $250 scholarship for his essay about the Employee Free Choice Act. The Washington State attendee talked about how EFCA would strengthen unions and ultimately America's middle class.
- Stephen Sachs from Greensburg, PA was also awarded a $250 scholarship. The civil engineering major at the University of Pittsburg wrote an excellent essay on health care and its impact on working families.
- Eric Scheer, a junior at the University of Washington from Seattle was awarded a $250 scholarship for his great essay on health care.
- Camille Dodson, also from Seattle and attending the U of W, won one of our two $250 Social Justice scholarships for her engaging work with the UW Dream Project that confronts inequality in those pursuing post-secondary education.
- Finally, the scholarship committee couldn't resist awarding a $250 scholarship to Amy McAuliffe of Pittsburgh, PA. Her essay on our trade policies was easily in the top 10 of the dozens submitted. But what caught the committee's attention was her work with the Pennsylvania Fair Trade Coaltion, Jobs With Justice and local labor council.
Past Winners:
The 2008 winners are:
$1,000 Grand Prize Winner
Lauren San Juan, Valley Springs, CA
$250 Scholarship
Catherine M. Judge, Elmhurst, NY
Jalisa Whitley, Geneva, NY
Matthew McGorrin, Littleton, CO
Chelsea Granger, Simpsonville, SC
Sivan Ben-David, Sunnyvale, CA
Lauren Foisy, Rego Park, NY
$500 Service Scholarship
Kaity Miller, Portland, OR
Joaquin Recinos, Los Angeles, CA
2007 $1,000 High School Grand Prize
Emily Moberg, Penncrest High School in Media, PA
2007 $1,000 College Grand Prize
Lila Zucker, University of Washington
2007 $200 Scholarship Winners
Danielle Megli, Pagosa Springs HS in Bayfield, CO
Brianna Kohr, University of California, Los Angeles
Michael Douglass, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond, VA
In Un Flora Ng, Dartmouth College
Chelsey Donohoo, West Hills HS in Santee, CA
Roy Scranton, The New School University in Brooklyn, NY
Gene Plaks, University of Texas at Austin
Brandon Houx, Yelm HS in Yelm, WA
Sarah Brown, West Valley HS in Fairbanks, AK
Kyle Monette, Mililani HS in Mililani, HI
2006 High School Category Grand Prize Winner: ($1,000 Scholarship)
2006 Current College Category Grand Prize Winner ($1,000 Scholarship)
Maiah Albi, University of Oregon
2006 High School and College Semi-Finalists ($200 Scholarship)
Angelica Cassimiro, Newark, NJ
Icela Garcia, Los Angeles, CA
Andrew Burleson, Irma, SC
Nathan Wilmers, Huntington Woods, MI
Sara Stevens, Chandler, AZ
Charlotte Aines, Glenview IL
If you wish to contribute to the scholarship fund please contact us at 253-471-1123 or email Todd at todd@americasolidarity.org
2005 Ottilie Markholt Scholarship Winners
$1000 Scholarship
Claire Keller-Scholz, Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma Washington. Plans to attend Gonzaga University.
Amanda Bordeaux, Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma Washington. Plans to attend Linfield College.
$200 Scholarship
Michelle Bowen, Gig Harbor High School, Gig Harbor Washington. Plans to attend Biola University.
Colby Blair, Rogers High School, Puyallup Washington. Plans to attend the University of New Mexico.
Briana Mason, Stadium High School, Tacoma Washington. Plans to attend Linfield College.
