Christopher O'Brien

Christopher O'Brien of Oak Lawn, IL, whose mother Kathryn O'Brien is a teacher in Willow Springs District 108 and a member of AFT Local 943, has been awarded an AFT Robert G. Porter four-year $8,000 Post secondary Scholarship.

Christopher, who is pictured with his parents, was also a winner of one of this year's Local 943 scholarships.

Madeline Fumi

Madeline Fumi of Lansing, IL, whose mother Suzanne Fumi is a retiree member of AFT Local 943, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Madeline took her first international trip when she was less than six months old—from Peru to her adoptive family in America. That proved to be just the beginning.

Through the People to People International program, she has traveled extensively to promote peace through understanding.

Madeline wants to major in international relations—and to be U.S. ambassador to Peru.

She is thankful for the opportunity she has been given—an opportunity that began 19 years ago thanks to a new, loving family and a hard-won union benefit: “As a union employee,” she says, “my mother was allowed a leave so she could spend three months in Peru completing my adoption.”