Scholarships

Richard Herlihy Memorial Scholarship

Before his retirement,  former Business Manager Patrick Donahue made a proposal to the trustees of the Education Fund to rename the annual scholarships. The result of that proposal was to rename the annual scholarships in memory of past Apprenticeship Director Richard Herlihy for his commitment to educating the members of Local 488.

The Local 488 Education Fund helps to relieve some of the financial pressure created by the skyrocketing cost of a college education through the funding of two (2) four-year scholarships valued at $6,000.00 each ($1,500.00 per year), to the top two scorers on the annual scholarship examination. The Education Fund also offers awards of $300.00 to all participants that complete the examination to help with some of the smaller incidental costs of college life. The scholarship exam is open to the children of IBEW Local 488 members who are graduating from high school or are completing their first year of college. To be eligible, the member must be in good standing with a current dues receipt. The member must also be employed by a contributing contractor, on the available for work list, or employed as an electrical inspector in the State of Connecticut.   Annual aptitude tests are normally held in June.

Scholarship Awards are received in the following manner. Participants must provide proof of payments in the form of receipts for tuition, books, course registrations and materials, or other valid educational expenses to the Trustees of the Education Fund for verification. Once this process is completed, the member will be notified to appear at the next union meeting to receive the payment.

Eligibility:  The exam is open to all children of ACTIVE IBEW LOCAL 488 MEMBERS that are in good standing with the Local Union and the International Office.  The students must also be graduating high school this year or be completing their first year of college.  If you have a question regarding the eligibility of your child, please call the union hall as soon as possible.

Time and Location:  The test will be held at the Union Offices, 721 Main Street, Monroe, on Tuesday July 21, 2020.  Please arrive 15 minutes early and park in rear parking lot.

Registration:  To register your child for the exam, please call our office at 203-452-7679, or send an email to jatc488@yahoo.com with the following information before July 17, 2020:

Member's Name, Student's Name, High School they are graduating from (May/June 2020), The college they are attending (if already enrolled for one year as a freshman)

IBEW Founders' Scholarship Program

The IBEW Founders' Scholarship Program is for IBEW members who have been in continuous good standing for the four years preceding May 1 of the scholarship year.  If a member has been on honorary withdrawal at any time  during the aforementioned period, he/she will not be eligible to participate.

The IBEW Founders' Scholarship Program is NOT for the spouses or children of IBEW members.  Union Plus (see below) has a scholarship that is available for all IBEW members, as well as members' spouses and dependent children (as defined under IRS regulations).  The Union Plus Scholarship is a privilege provided to members of participating unions affiliated with the AFL/CIO.  Please visit the Union Plus web site for more information at www.unionplus.org.

The application for the IBEW Founders' Scholarship program can be located by CLICKING HERE.

Union Plus Scholarship Program

For any members interested in the Union Plus Scholarship Program, the deadline to have your paperwork submitted is January 31, annually. To access the Union Plus Scholarship application (six pages) CLICK HERE.

This scholarship program, unlike the "IBEW Founders' Scholarship Program", is also available to the child dependents of IBEW members and other AFL-CIO affiliated unions.