BRS Family Member Awarded
2024 Union Plus Scholarship
Winner Honored for Achievement and Union Values
Washington, D.C. – Union Plus recently awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 209 students representing 42 unions, including one winner representing the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS). This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes university, college, and trade or technical school students from 33 states, the District of Columbia, and one Canadian province. The BRS winner is:
- Nevaeh Alyssa Rodriguez of El Paso, Texas. Rodriguez, whose father, Oscar Rodriguez, is a member of BRS Local 99, has been awarded a $750 scholarship.
“This year’s Union Plus Scholarship award winners are as inspirational as ever,” Union Plus President Mitch Stevens said. “We sincerely appreciate them sharing their incredible personal accomplishments and plans with us. We wish them all continued success, and we are proud to support their education.”
Meet the 2024 BRS Honoree
Nevaeh Rodriguez
Del Valle High School (DVHS), El Paso, Texas (2024)
Nevaeh plans to major in education at Frank Phillips College (FPC) in Borger, Texas, this fall. She signed a National Letter of Intent in January to play for FPC’s softball team. Nevaeh wants to become a teacher to help students who are deaf or have hearing loss. She was born with bilateral hearing loss and wore hearing aids until age 3, when she underwent cochlear implant surgery. “It was very hard at first, but my parents enrolled me in a program at a school specifically for students with hearing loss,” Nevaeh said. “I was able to build many friendships with other students like me, and now I want to become a teacher for kids like me. My dad’s medical insurance has been a huge help financially for my hearing disability, and I thank the BRS for that.”
DVHS assistant principal Ramon Benavides taught Nevaeh’s freshman biology class and has witnessed her academic prowess, athletic achievements, and overall commitment to excellence over the past four years. “What truly sets Nevaeh apart is her ability to overcome personal adversity with resilience and grace,” Benavides said. “Despite facing challenges, she consistently emerges as a leader among her peers, showcasing her tenacity and her ability to motivate and inspire others. Her dedication to her studies and extracurricular activities exemplifies her well-rounded and driven nature. It is clear that she is on a trajectory of success.”
Activities and honors: National Honor Society; National English Honor Society; DVHS varsity softball team captain; El Paso Young Guns travel softball; three-time all-district softball
Volunteerism: El Paso Humane Society; Wreaths Across America; toy drive for children with hearing impairment; youth softball, volleyball camps
Learn More About the Union Plus Scholarship Program
The Union Plus Scholarship Program, now in its 33rd year, awards scholarships based on outstanding academic achievement, personal character, financial need, and commitment to the values of organized labor. The program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.
Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded more than $5.6 million in educational funding to more than 4,000 union members, spouses, and dependent children. Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school, or recognized technical or trade school. The selection process is exceptionally competitive: 5,928 applications were received this year from 69 unions and all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, and four Canadian provinces.
Visit unionplus.org/scholarship for applications and benefit eligibility.
About Union Plus
Union Plus, founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986, uses the collective buying power of America’s
12.5 million union members to deliver top-quality benefits and services at competitive prices to working families. In addition to the scholarship program, Union Plus offers the College Program with exclusive tuition discounts, financial aid, and grants, providing union members and their families the opportunity to earn an affordable, online degree that fits their schedule, interests, career goals, and budget. Union Plus also provides a wide range of other money-saving programs, including exclusive everyday discounts on wireless service, travel, and more. Visit unionplus.org to explore Union Plus’s 30-plus benefits.
###
