Navigating Scholarship Opportunities: A Guide to Western Union and Union Plus Programs
Securing financial aid is a crucial step for many students seeking higher education. Scholarship programs like those offered by Western Union and Union Plus provide valuable opportunities for individuals to achieve their academic goals. This article will delve into the specifics of these programs, outlining eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and application processes.
Union Plus Scholarship Program: Aiding Union Families
The Union Plus Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to students from union families. It supports current and retired members of participating unions, their spouses, and their dependent children (as defined by IRS regulations).
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Union Plus Scholarship, applicants must meet certain requirements:
- Union Membership: At least one year of continuous union membership is required, held by the applicant, applicant's spouse, or parent (if the applicant is a dependent). This membership must be in good standing by May 31 of the scholarship year.
- Affiliation: Applicants must be affiliated with a participating union.
- Relationship: The applicant must be a member or the dependent of a member.
Evaluation and Selection
The Union Plus Scholarship is a competitive award. Applicants are evaluated based on several factors:
- Academic Ability: A GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended.
- Social Awareness: Demonstrated understanding and engagement with social issues.
- Financial Need: Consideration of the applicant's financial circumstances.
- Appreciation of Labor: Understanding and valuing the role of unions and the labor movement.
Application Process
The application deadline is (noon) Eastern Standard Time on January 31 of the scholarship year. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
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Award Details
Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $4,000. These are one-time cash awards intended for study beginning in the fall of the awarded year. Students are eligible to re-apply each year. The Scholarship Committee determines the recipients by May 31 each year. Note that due to application volume, individual status updates are not available before award announcements.
Isaiah's Award
Isaiah's Award honors the life of Isaiah C., a child fostered and adopted by a Union Plus employee. Applicants for Isaiah's Award must have a connection to the foster care system. In their application, they are asked to describe their experiences (personal, employment, or volunteer) or career goals related to foster care.
Impact and Reach
The Union Plus Education Foundation has awarded over $5.9 million in scholarships to students of union families, benefiting over 4,200 union families. Donations from union supporters help the Foundation expand its reach and support even more students.
Western Union Foundation Global Scholars Program: Empowering Global Students
The Western Union Foundation Global Scholars Program, in partnership with the Institute of International Education (IIE), focuses on providing scholarships to underserved populations, particularly international students from low-income communities.
Mission and Goals
The Western Union Foundation believes education is a key pathway to success. The program aims to provide training and skills needed to enter and thrive in today’s workforce. The WU Scholars program, launched in 2017, provides scholarships to students facing barriers to access higher education, enabling them to support themselves, their families, and their communities.
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Scholarship Opportunities
In 2021, the Foundation supported students through a $400,000 fund, awarding a minimum of 40 scholarships of up to $10,000 each to promising students in their final or penultimate year of their degree program.
Target Students
The program primarily supports international students from low-income countries studying in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Eligibility and Selection
Western Union Scholars are selected based on their academic standing, personal goals, and level of financial need. Many applicants have shared that without the Western Union Scholarship, they would not be able to remain in school.
Nomination and Application Process
The IIE accepts nominations, selects awardees, and distributes scholarships. Students must be nominated by a representative from their higher education institution to be invited to formally apply. Nominations for Academic Year 2025-26 are being accepted through May 15, 2025.
Project Finish Line
Since its inception, 39 students at 14 universities around the United States have been a part of the Project Finish Line awards. IIE is not currently accepting new nominations for Project Finish Line.
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Western Union Foundation Family Scholarship Program
The Western Union Foundation Family Scholarship Program supports immigrant/migrant families by helping fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, and brothers and sisters pursue education and training.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: All applicants must be 18 years or older.
- Family Connection: Both applicants must be members of the same family.
- Residency: Applicants must have been in the United States for seven years or fewer and must have been born outside of the United States.
- Location: Both applicants must be living in the United States currently.
- Education: The educational institutions for both family members must be in the United States.
- Visa Status: International students already in the United States on F-1 or F-2 visas are not eligible.
Permitted Uses
Scholarships may be used for tuition for college/university education, language acquisition classes, technical/skill training, and/or GED classes. They may not be used for advanced degrees (such as Masters, PhD). Scholarships will be made only to accredited higher-education institutions and training/educational providers.
Additional Information about Western Union
Employee Benefits and Culture
Western Union offers a comprehensive “Global Total Rewards Program” to support the health and well-being of its employees and their families, including domestic partners. Employees appreciate the benefits, citing compensation and benefits as top “pros” in reviews on platforms like Glassdoor and Indeed.
Benefits include:
- Healthcare
- Tuition benefits for career development and language learning
- Pension contributions
- Free parking (in some locations)
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
The company is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related medical conditions), national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or other protected category.
Job Alerts
Individuals can subscribe to job alerts to stay informed about potential career opportunities at Western Union. To set up job alerts:
- Select Sign In from the upper right corner of the jobs homepage to create an account or sign in to an existing account.
- Select Job Alerts in the upper right corner of the jobs homepage.
- Select Create Job Alert to set preferences and select OK.
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