Assembled in the Electric Industry Center auditorium on Saturday, April 9, 2016 were
Trustees of the Educational and Cultural Trust Fund, Local 3, IBEW officers, business representatives, members, their families, elected officials, and more than 400 guests to celebrate the 68th Annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast.
A total of 305 scholarship applications were received and the Fund awarded 44 merit-based scholarships valued at $30,000 each to member’s children in their senior year of high school or their first year of college. These recipients will attend a four-year college or university within the continental United States. In addition, the Dean Harry Carman Fellowship, a one-time payment of $8,000, was awarded to Anthony Auriemmo, a PhD candidate in organizational psychology. Additionally the first Michael Siegel Memorial Scholarship, a one-time payment of $5,000, was awarded to Crystal E. Samuels, the daughter of a Sign Division member of Local 3.
Melissa Mark Viverito, Speaker of the New York City Council and representing the Hillary Clinton campaign addressed the auditorium and spoke of Ms. Clinton’s commitment to help the people in trade unions and the middle-class. She quoted Hillary, as many do, saying “It takes a village to raise a child” and said that Local 3 has definitely created its own village with a community that comes together to create quality jobs and educational opportunities for its members.
Michael A. Yee, Director of the Fund welcomed everyone, congratulated the recipients and their parents and spoke about the many benefits available to members and their families through the Fund. He then introduced John Korman, President of the Alumni Association of Scholarship Recipients who presented the awards to the top 3 recipients of the Essay Awards.
Dr. Gerald Finkel, Chairman of the Fund and Chairman of the Joint Industry Board offered congratulations to the recipients and their parents. He urged the awardees to strive to separate fact from fiction and not to be complacent when seeking the truth
The keynote speaker was Roberta Reardon, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor. Commissioner Reardon said it is the best day when friends in labor come together and she was proud to represent Governor Cuomo on this special day. She congratulated the recipients and their parents and stated that no one gets where they are alone. She complimented the essay winners and said she would be taking the essays with her to steal some of the brilliant ideas contained within. Commissioner Reardon spoke about a new addition to the Javits Center, expanding Penn Station into the Farley Post Office, the new Tappan Zee Bridge and how it was a perfect example of how project labor agreements work. A new LaGuardia Airport, re-configuration of JFK Airport, improvement to the MTA, all critical for the future and how these projects will create work for IBEW members. Commissioner Reardon said our apprentice program meets the gold standard and spoke of the Long Island Education Center and the upcoming Long Island City Training Center and the importance of a paid family leave of 12 weeks and a tax cut for middle-income families. She said that it was a pleasure to be at the event and that she would look forward to a return visit.
Other speakers and special guests in attendance were Senator Toby Stavisky, NYS Senator, Queens 16th District, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Representative New York’s 6th Congressional District, Rory Lancman, Council member, NYC 24th District, Edward F. Cox, Chairman, New York Republican State Committee, and Kenneth L. Thompson, Supreme Court Justice, Bronx County.
Christopher Erikson, Business Manager of Local 3, IBEW, gave closing remarks and spoke of the nominees for the presidential election and announced that the Union would be endorsing Hillary Clinton, in the Democratic Presidential primary. He stated that while her rival, Senator Sanders had many valid arguments, it was former Senator Clinton who had reached out for the support of the building trades. The business manager urged members to reject the racist and anti-immigrant arguments of the Republican front-runner.
The breakfast ended with the benediction by Robert Ayello, Administrator of the Electrical Industry Training Center which concluded the day’s events. The recipients then gathered in the Balcony Lounge for group photos and some important information regarding the scholarship procedure.
