Union is Top Donor to Aerospace Industry Scholarship Fund

LYNNWOOD — Three community college students studying for careers in aerospace are getting scholarships thanks to Machinists Union District Lodge 751.

The scholarships went to Chevy Hoover of Green River Community College, Kenneth Needle of South Seattle Community College and Chris Thomsen of Everett Community College. The three were among 14 Washington students awarded $25,000 worth scholarships from the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance. The presentations were made Feb. 13 at the alliance’s annual conference.

District 751 is the top donor to PNAA’s scholarship foundation. Its $5,000 gift provided the money for the three students’ scholarships.

“Our union is committed to helping to train the next generation,” said District 751 Secretary-Treasurer Susan Palmer. “PNAA is a good partner in this, because its scholarships help make sure that we’ll have good people with the right skills to replace our older members who are now getting ready to retire.”

PNAA honored the union with an award for being the top donor.

“We appreciate all of the donors who give to our scholarship program, and especially the Machinists Union,” said Melanie Jordan, PNAA’s executive director. “Your kind of support is essential if the Pacific Northwest is going to remain home to the world’s most-important aerospace cluster.”

Originally formed in 1935 to represent hourly workers at the Boeing Co., District Lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers now represents more than 33,000 working men and women at 48 companies across Washington, Oregon and California. Over the past four years, it has contributed more than $1 million to Guide Dogs of America, including a record $299,000 raised in 2012.

To learn more about District 751, read the Machinists News.