2011 Scholarship
IFT Carl J. Megel Special Education
Winner
PSRP/PE CONFERENCE ACTIVATES & INFORMS MEMBERS continued
involvement. Conference-goers also heard presentations from representatives of the three public pension systems – State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) – in which PSRPs and public employees are eligible to participate.
CELEBRATE PSRPS EVERY DAY continued
Each year on this special day – and every day – consider doing something special to acknowledge the challenging and important work of teaching assistants, clerical professionals,
Miranda Thompson was selected to win the 2011 IFT Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship. Thompson graduated from Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn in June. She is the daughter of Amy Thompson, who is a member of the West Suburban Teachers Union, Local 571.
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The Public Employees Constituency Council discussed upcoming legislative issues during the conference.
Dan Montgomery, Miranda Thompson with her mother Amy, a member of Local 571, and Jane Russell
bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, security personnel and other PSRPs who make a difference for students every day. Talk to your colleagues, family and friends and ask them to do the same.
Here are a few suggestions about simple ways you can let PSRPs know they are respected and appreciated for the critical work they do. You can probably think of many other ideas - be creative! 1 Simply say “thank you” to the PSRPs at your workplace, child’s school or wherever you go. Offer a card or small gift of appreciation to PSRPs you or your child work with directly. 2 Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or favorite online news outlet about PSRP Day in Illinois and the important work PSRPs do across the state. 3 If you are a teacher, have your students create a “thank you” poster, card or other artwork for the PSRPs in your classroom or building. If possible, organize a time for some PSRPs to come to your classroom to accept the gift from the students. 4 If you are a parent with school-age children, talk to your school’s PTA or other parent groups about PSRP Day. Ask them to sponsor a PSRP appreciation event, such as a breakfast or other function on PSRP Day each year. 5
If your local has PSRP members, arrange a special union event, such as a rally or reception, to recognize them. If your local does not represent PSRPs, invite neighboring locals with PSRPs to help you organize the event and get PSRPs to attend. A little solidarity goes a long way!
Thompson maintained an excellent grade point average throughout high school and was a member of the National Honor Society. She participated in cross country and track and was also involved in the student council, the Eco Club and German Honor Society. In the community, Thompson participated in Girl Scouts, volunteered for her church, participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and volunteered for a local homeless shelter. In her scholarship essay, Thompson wrote about how she has learned to adapt to her learning disability and work with her own strengths to learn and achieve at a high level. “Even though my learning disability has created some setbacks for me, I feel that I have gained more than I have lost,” she wrote. “It has helped me determine the way I learn. “I look forward to applying all that I have learned about myself and in school to a field of study about which I am passionate…this scholarship will help me to achieve this goal.”
ReadMore For more information about the union’s scholarship programs, visit ift-aft.org/benefits/scholarships. U N I O N L I N K | O C T O B E R/NOVEMBER 2011
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