DECATUR, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2025) — On March 27, 2025, Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly announced the distribution of $12,000 to 21 recipients of the 2025 Michael E Shampine Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship was open to affiliate union members and their immediate family who plan to enroll in higher education, vocational trade schools, or apprentice programs.
Lexie Damery (SMART 768), Haley Etchason (IBEW 146), and Madison Prasun (UA 137) were each awarded the maximum amount of $1,000.
Eighteen other applicants were awarded $500. Those recipients are as follows:
DFTA 4324: Makenzie Franklin and Sierra Parton
IBEW 146: Haley Hanson, Jolie Stuart, Isabella Lozano, Madison Sapp, and Roman Wayne
IBEW 51: Isabella Medaris
Iron Workers 46: Brody Harker
Laborers 159: Slater Trier
Operating Engineers 965: Audrey Gerberding
Plumbers & Pipefitters 137: Benjamin Wubker
SMART 768: Olivia Kostenski and Shelby Oakley
Teamsters 916: Chesney Auter, Alivia Kent, and Oliver Lee
UAW 751: Bethany Cothern
"This is one of our labor council’s favorite projects because we get to invest in the next generation of workers,” stated Scholarship Chair Amy Rueff. “We provide scholarships to students regardless of grades or financial need. We trust they will learn that workers deserve dignity and respect, no matter what career path they may achieve.”
The memorial scholarship was named after the passing of their dedicated president, Michael Shampine (Roofers 92), who died in 2007. Since its inception in 2007, $89,775 in scholarships and grants have been awarded to 118 students representing twenty-five different unions. The scholarship is housed in a donor-advised fund at the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
Decatur Trades and Labor Assembly is a central labor council of the AFL-CIO and is made up of 37 local unions. They represent approximately 13,000 union members and retirees in Macon County. The mission of the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council is to organize in the community to promote social justice for all working people.
