Congratulations to our 2020 UFCW 21 Scholarship Recipients!

Four-Year Scholarship ($4,000/yr, 4 years)

Alyssa Thilmony

UFCW 21 Member, Sacred Heart Medical Center

What do you plan to study?

I recently sent in my Nursing School application, so my plan is to finish my Associates in Nursing, and continue my education to get my Bachelors in Nursing.

What's your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal would be a Psych Nurse Practitioner.

What does the union mean to you?

The job I have now is my first job with a union, and I think they're amazing. I've been a union member for 5 years now and I got to witness the full force of the union last year when we were negotiating the new contract for the hospital. Many stewards spent countless hours at the negotiation table to fight for their members to get a fair contract, and were successful. To me when I was first hired I was a little skeptical about unions as I had never been apart of one, but after having been a member I see the immense value unions have for not only their members, but also to the facilities their members work for.

First in Family  

Jeanett Quintanilla Herrera

UFCW 21 Member, PCC Edmonds

What do you plan to study?

I am a foreign attorney from Peru, and I am planning to study my master’s in law at the University of Washington. This university has various master’s in law, so I decided to study the Sustainable International Development, LLM.

This program will prepare me to help the world recover from the global pandemic, which threatens the stability of economies worldwide and the livelihoods of people across the planet. In addition, this program is focused on key subjects in the area of law and policy that will help the private sector, government institutions, and civil society, to achieve responsible sustainable growth in the face of challenges to global health, food security, the environment and global trade and supply chains.

What's your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal is getting my license as a lawyer in Washington state, and represent workers. I would love fight for the rights, hazard pay, and equal opportunity for essential workers, and immigrants in our state. Also, I would like to be representative of the Washington state Legislature, and then represent WA state in the congress.

What does the union mean to you?

I believe that the union play a very important role in our society because labor union represents the collective interest of workers, bargaining with employers over such concerns as wages, hazard pay, and working conditions. The role that the union plays right now in this pandemic is very important because we are in a global pandemic and we need a strong union. I also believe that all the industries work needs to collaborate with our union and be part of them. The idea is not just be a member, so the idea is be activist, and speak up for our rights with no fears.

First in Family

Rosa Conejo

UFCW 21 Member, Monica Sauno Mascote, Draper Valley Farms

What do you plan to study?

I’m currently trying to get my Associates in Pre-Nursing 

What's your ultimate career goal?

After receiving my Associates in Pre-Nursing I plan on transferring to a University to get my Bachelors in Science of Nursing. I eventually want to become an Oncology Nurse. At some point in my nursing career I want to be a travel nurse. I think that would be really fun. 

What does the union mean to you?

What I know about Unions is that they are the voice of the workers for a better working environment or getting them a better wage. I feel like they are an amazing group of people that are able to stand up for what’s right and what they believe their workers deserve. Without them the workers would not be able to fight for better wages or even better working conditions. They are with the people who are sometimes too scared to stand up to their superiors because they think they’ll put their job at risk. They’re like the light at the end of the tunnel. If a member needs help or feels something needs to be fixed the union is the voice of the people to keep on fighting to work in the best conditions.

Health Care ($3,000)

Marcellis Dodson-Smith

UFCW 21 Member,
MultiCare Auburn Medical Center

Health Care

Hannah Little

UFCW 21 Member, Connie Little, Olympic Medical Home Health

What do you plan to study?

I am currently studying to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima.

What's your ultimate career goal?

I want to become a family practice physician or pediatrician for a rural community in the Pacific Northwest.

What does the union mean to you?

Unions were founded to protect workers in their workplaces and lives: fighting for safe conditions, establishing the 9-5 work week, and introducing fair compensation. Unions continue to fight for workers in these ways and many more today. They represent solidarity of the workforce, and ensure fair treatment and living for work. People like my mother are able to focus on their work without worrying about working conditions, and know that she and her fellow workers can advocate for change when needed.

Full-Time Student ($2,000)

Keith Wilwert

UFCW 21 Member, Tracy Wilwert, Olympic Medical Center

What do you plan to study?

I think it would be awesome to be an automotive engineer. That's kind of my goal.

What does the union mean to you?

As the son of a longtime Union member, Keith been aware of unions but didn’t know much about how they operate. “I know I learned about unions during U.S. history classes. I know that they're to protect workers from being fired for dumb reasons.”

Full-Time Student

Ishmael Togi

UFCW 21 Member, Lesa'o Togi
Fred Meyer #28 - Burien

What do you plan to study?

Multimedia, but probably business administration.

What does the union mean to you?

Ishmael mom has worked at Fred Meyer for about 20 years. She's the one who let him know about the scholarship opportunities. "They help our fight for the worker's rights."

Full-Time Student

Soleil Wieland

UFCW 21 Member, QFC #822 - Factoria

What do you plan to study?

At first, my plan was to study Mechanical Engineering. However, as I continued taking classes, I realized that it is really not my passion. I decided to change majors to Math and add an English minor. So now I am majoring in Math and double minoring in English and Mechanical Engineering. I feel so happy with what I am studying!

What’s your ultimate career goal?

I want to be an Algebra teacher. Algebra is my favorite part of Math, so I would love to teach it. Additionally, my Mom is a teacher and I have always admired how passionate she is about teaching and I feel really connected to that passion. I also had a great Algebra teacher; she made the subject fun and easy to understand, and I hope to be able to do that as well.

What does the union mean to you?

I have been a part of the union since I started working at QFC in 2015. I have always appreciated that the union has stood for ensuring that their members are treated fairly. This has been abundantly clear during these difficult times. The union has fought to not only to ensure that we have the protective equipment we need to do our jobs safely, but also to ensure that we have continued to receive additional compensation for the risks we take every day going to work. I am so grateful that the union never stops protecting its members and that I am a part of it!

Full-Time Student

Robin Grant

UFCW 21 Member, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

What do you plan to study?

I am working towards my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education

What’s your ultimate career goal?

My goal is to teach 1st grade, but I will be happy with any grade.

What does the union mean to you?

I have been a part of UFCW 21 for 19 yers, since I worked for Labcorp in Seattle in 2001, and 2003-present at Sacred Heart MC. Since being a part of the union, I have received steady raises and support. In recent years, Providence has tried to make many changes to our benefits, the Union has stepped in and made sure we get the best possible.

Full-Time Student

Nicholas Subocz

UFCW 21 Member,
QFC #827 – Holman Rd

What do you plan to study?

I plan to study public policy and public administration, and in the future I will perhaps pursue law school. I already have a declared major, titled Law, Economics, and Public Policy (LEPP).

What’s your ultimate career goal?

In the future I wish to be on the senate or house floor debating among future (and perhaps current) congressmen and congresswomen, and working with the people of my state that I grew up in to pursue a better future for America. My ultimate career goal would be to have done everything in my ability to have helped the American people, especially the working class.

What does the union mean to you?

I believe unions are a symbol of the solidarity of the working class against the larger corporate forces. I know that unions offer services and protection for workers across the country, offering rights and representation for laborers who would otherwise be under the thumb of the large companies they work for. One example might be being unrightfully terminated or receiving a sudden massive cut in hours, especially when the employee in question has been working there for over a decade. I know that if I or my father are brought into the manager’s office, I could ask to have a union representative represent me instead if I feel they are going to ask questions that may result in my termination.

Full-Time Student

Troy Schmidt

UFCW 21 Member, Laura Schmidt
Safeway #1472 – Mt Vernon

What do you plan to study?

I will be studying Instrumentation and Control Technology from Bellingham Technical College beginning in the fall. This is a program that covers calibration, maintenance, problem solving, etc. of different electrical tools, software, and systems at industrial type facilities (power plants, refineries, etc.). In short, it is a cross between engineer and electrician.

What’s your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal is to complete this program in Bellingham, and then apply my knowledge by receiving a job in that field. By achieving this goal, I hope to be able to start and provide for a family as well as still live the lifestyle I choose and partake in activities I enjoy. I want to be the best and most successful person I can be and in 30 years be able to look back and be proud of the person I am and be glad I made the career decisions I did to help me become that person.

What does the union mean to you?

I believe I have a decent general understanding about unions and and what they represent/offer members. My mom is a UFCW Union member herself and as a journeyman hydro mechanic, my dad is a member of the IBEW Union. I have seen from both of them how hard the union works to protect workers, their rights, and improve working conditions.

Full-Time Student

Emily Drozynski

UFCW 21 Member, Jenny Drozynski
Kaiser Permanente – Tacoma

What do you plan to study?

I am studying Aerospace Engineering with a focus in Astronautics.

What’s your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate career goal is to be an astronaut and work in space. I would love to work for a small, private company such as Blue Origin. I also have a dream to serve my country, so I plan to join the Air Force as an officer after college for some time.

Full-Time Student

Kayshish Pichette-Cline

UFCW 21 Member,
Safeway #3285 - Bellingham