Local longshoremen’s union awards nearly $30,000 in scholarships to 18 area students
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Amid pandemic challenges, ILA 1408 Scholarship Fund marks 25 years of giving back to Northeast Florida high school and college students
Local 1408 of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) recently awarded nearly $30,000 in scholarships to 18 area high school seniors and college students. ILA 1408 is a labor union representing many of the longshoremen and dock workers who move cargo at JAXPORT’s terminals.
2020 marks the ILA 1408 Scholarship Fund’s silver (25 year) anniversary.
Founding board chair Charles Spencer started the fund in 1995 to help other parents after his own struggles to pay for his children’s education. To date, the fund has awarded more than $750,000 in scholarships to over 1,000 high school and college students.
“Many of our recipients are the first in their families to attend college, and it is an honor to be a part of their journey,” said Spencer. “Supporting the educational goals of our young people is even more important now under these current economic circumstances. We are grateful to all of our sponsors for their support as we work together to help these deserving young people succeed in college.”
“The scholarship helps cover dorm expenses and saved me from having to take out a loan,” said scholarship recipient Clayton Senior III, a graduate of First Coast High School who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts from Florida International University. “I want to say thank you to the ILA and to everyone involved in putting the scholarship together. It is a blessing.”
To be considered for the scholarship, local applicants were required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA, complete community service activities and submit an essay.
ILA 1408 is a local chapter of the International Longshoremen’s Association, AFL-CIO, the largest union of maritime workers in North America, representing upwards of 65,000 longshoremen on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Great Lakes, major U.S. rivers, Puerto Rico and Eastern Canada.
Local 1408 helps connect more than 1,100 men and women with jobs at JAXPORT. Opportunities for these members continue to grow along with the port.
Sponsors of the scholarship include ILA Local 1408; Rowe Family Charitable Fund c/o Community Foundation of NE Florida; Container Maintenance Corp.; South Atlantic Gulf Coast District; SSA Cooper; JAXPORT; Morgan Stanley; Jacksonville Chiropractic Rehab & Wellness Center; AFL/CIO International Longshoremen’s Association; Mosely, Pritchard, Parrish, Knight & Jones; The Lambos Firm; IBERIABANK; Jax Maritime Association; Clerks and Checkers Local 1593; Smith, Gambrell & Russell; Pacific Income Advisors; Pension Board Consultants; Schultheis & Panettieri; and Barnett & Associates.