Back to School: Texas AFL-CIO Announces $30K+ Awarded for College & Career-Building Scholarships in 2025
TEXAS – Today, the Texas AFL-CIO released the recipients of the 2025 scholarships awarded to affiliated union members and families. In total, the organization awarded more than $30,000 in both college and career-building scholarships.
“Texas labor unions are investing in our next generation because it’s going to take all of us to build a state that works for working people,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy. “Congratulations to all of these scholarship winners — you have an entire movement rooting for you!”
2025 High School Scholarship Winners
Criteria for high school seniors include academic performance, extracurricular activities, a labor test, interview, and financial need.
Diego Aguirre
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Attending: Knox College
Child of Elisa Aguirre, member of San Antonio Alliance 67.
Madelyne Baulis
Hometown: Santa Fe, TX
Attending: Southwestern University
Child of Brandi Sanders-Lausch, member of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-1.
Karley Duque
Hometown: Stinnett, TX
Attending: West Texas A&M University
Child of Johnathan Duque, member of International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 351.
Alana Grubbs
Hometown: Madisonville, TX
Attending: Sam Houston State University
Child of Clayton Grubbs, member of United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 68.
Hyunah Lim
Hometown: Allen, TX
Attending: University of Texas at Austin
Child of Changsoo Lim, member of United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 100.
Delimar Rodriguez Lopez
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Attending: The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Child of Sylvia Lopez, member of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 195.
Juan Carlos Moreno
Hometown: Garland, TX
Attending: Dallas College-Eastfield Campus
Child of Jose Juan Moreno, member of Ironworkers Local 263.
Emerson Morris
Hometown: DeSoto, TX
Attending: University of Houston
Child of Tony Morris, member of Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 513.
Liliana Nieto
Hometown: McAllen, TX
Attending: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Child of Veronica Guerrero, member of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 6329.
Anuoluwa Celestinah Omoyajowo
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Attending: Texas State University
Child of Temitofe Omoyajawo, member of Transport Workers Union (TWU) 567.
Miranda Palacios
Hometown: Spring, TX
Attending: University of Houston
Child of Dulce Sucre Palacios, member of UNITE HERE Local 23.
Ronald Earl Prater Jr.
Hometown: McKinney, TX
Attending: Collin College
Child of Cherie Prater, member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local (UFCW) 1000.
Nicole Ryman
Hometown: Bay City, TX
Attending: McMurry University
Child of Kenneth Ryman, member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 66.
Evan Ivy Speight
Hometown: Austin, TX
Attending: Wright State University
Child of Emily Speight, member of Office and Professional International Union (OPEIU)Local 277.
Kayley Tieu
Hometown: Hurst, TX
Attending: Undecided
Child of Thu Nguyen, member of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 218.
Samantha Villarreal
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Attending: Harvard University
Child of Samuel Villarreal, member of International Association of FireFighters (IAFF) Local 51.
Abigail Walker
Hometown: Port Arthur, TX
Attending: Lamar University
Child of Jeremy Walker, member of United SteelWorkers (USW) Local 13-4230.
Mackenzie Wilkey
Hometown: Kingwood, TX
Attending: The University of Texas at Austin
Child of Timothy Scott Wilkey, member of International Association of FireFighters (IAFF) Local 0341.
2025 Continuing Education Scholarship Winners
Criteria for continuing education candidates includes volunteer work and activism as students continue their education.
Kenneth Collins
Hometown: Houston, TX
Attending: Texas Southern University
Child of Kenneth B. Collins, member of International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local 24.
Lauren Hernandez
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Attending: Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso
Child of Larry Hernandez, member of the International Association of FireFighters (IAFF) Local 51.
Gabriel Krzywicki
Hometown: Keller, TX
Attending: University of North Texas
Child of Mike Krzywicki, member of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 513.
Katherine Ochoa
Hometown: Houston, TX
Attending: Texas State University
Child of Edgar Ochoa, member of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 24.
2025 Career-Building Scholarships
Criteria for members receiving the Career-Building Scholarship includes the applicants’ plans to build a better livelihood and further their careers.
Diarmid Campbell
Hometown: San Angelo, TX
Attending: Wayne State University
Member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520.
Sharun Cooper
Hometown: Spring, TX
Attending: Lone Star College-North Harris
Member of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 4518.
Scholarship Committee members this year included Chair Jeff Darby (AFGE Retiree 2139), Karina Quintana (CWA 2385), Renda Hobbs-Marsh (TWU 556), Calvin Mackie (ILA 24), and Lee Medley (USW 13-1 Retiree).
Donations this year were made in memory of David Brown, Joe Camarillo, Tom Carlin, Isaiah W. Carter, Tom Cummins, Kitzy Daniels, Maxi Echelmeyer, Manny Esparza, Kay Hailey, Howard Haralson, Elaine Jones, Alice Ruth Levy, James Martin, George Morin Sr., Tony Padilla, Cecile Richards, Dorothy St. Clair, Pat Tucker, Sharon Wark, J.D. Williams,and in honor of Paul Rainey and Ed Sills’ retirement.
Donors who funded at least one full scholarship include the Austin AFL-CIO Council, Benefit Resources, Inc., El Paso Central Labor Union, Houston International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Dock and Marine Council, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) 450, Provost Umphrey Law Firm, Sabine Area Central Labor Council, Southeast Texas Building & Construction Trades Council, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) Local 68, UA Local 211, The Union Labor Life Insurance Company, and United Steelworkers (USW) District 13.
To support the Texas AFL-CIO scholarship fund, please make a donation here.
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The Texas AFL-CIO is the state labor federation consisting of 240,000 affiliated union members and advocates for working people in Texas. Learn more at texasaflcio.org