George Bowman, Jr., a steamfitter from Local 420 in Philadelphia, PA, became disillusioned when he applied for jobs only to be rejected because he didn’t have a college degree.
“I knew I had to go back to school. I had more than 25 years of experience but I wasn’t getting the jobs I wanted because I didn’t have a degree,” says George.
George, a 22-year member of UA, initially attended a local college in Pennsylvania, but felt overwhelmed by the high tuition ($425 per credit hour compared to $265 per credit hour at the NLC) and had difficulty balancing school, work and family. After researching National Labor College, he decided to switch to NLC.
I feel good knowing that I’m doing what I need to do to create more opportunities – and job security – for myself while being a good role model to my 11-year-old son.
“By pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Construction Management at the NLC online, I have the flexibility I need to work and spend time with my family. The school’s tuition is lower than most colleges but the quality of the classes is high.”
George credits Union Plus for keeping his goal of graduating next year on track.
The Union Plus Scholarships are a big help. It shows that that the union movement recognizes that education is the key to individual success and the future of the labor movement.
Scholarships for the Fall semester are available to help your dreams of completing a degree come true, make sure you apply by August 6th to qualify for federal financial aid and scholarships.
This was part of the Fulfill Your Dreams at NLC series.
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