Our congratulations goes out to dependent Joseph Gray who was one of the awardees of this year's national AFSCME Family Scholarship. He is one of only ten winners, out of hundreds of great candidates who applied for the national scholarship. Joseph is the son of Arkeeta Humphrey, a member of OCSEA Cleveland Chapter 1801 and a Tax Examiner Specialist at the Ohio Department of Taxation.

 

Joseph wrote in his essay that he learned a key life lesson from his mother’s experiences as a member of OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11. “I developed a meaningful understanding of what stability really means. It is not a life without hardship. It is the ability to withstand hardship because you are supported, respected, and not alone,” he wrote of his support system that helped him reach his goals. He says he has carried this understanding into his work as a mentor for younger students in his high school, realizing that as a Black student he could “help create spaces where they feel seen and supported...It is about using your voice to strengthen a community,” he wrote.

 

Joseph will attend Kent State University as a freshman in the fall where he will be studying architecture.

 

This $2,000 AFSCME Family Scholarship is available to high school graduating seniors and is renewable for up to four years, as long as the student remains enrolled full-time. The scholarship may be used for any field of study. Learn more about the AFSCME Family Scholarship HERE.