Tuition Award
The Trustees of the Joint Labor Management Committee (JLMC) take great pride in providing the Dority-Vaughn Tuition Award Program. This program is available to members of the UFCW and their dependent children who meet the eligibility requirements explained below.
Member Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a Tuition Award you must:
- Be a member of the UFCW in good standing who works for a JLMC employer (Albertsons, Kroger, Schnucks, Stop and Shop (Ahold), Tops, UNFI, Wakefern-ShopRite).
- Have at least three (3) or more years of service as of the November before the application period (December through February) for the following academic year.*
- Be actively employed in a JLMC member store (Albertsons, Kroger, Schnucks, Stop and Shop (Ahold), Tops, UNFI, Wakefern-ShopRite) during the month the Tuition Award Committee announces the award.
- Be a full-time student (enrolled in 12 units).
* For example, a member who has at least three (3) years of service as of November 30, 2024, is eligible to apply between December 2024 and February 2025 for a Tuition Award for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Dependent Children Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the program your dependent child must be:
- Under age 24 at the date of award.
- Your dependent for purposes of federal income taxes (this includes legally adopted children and stepchildren).
To apply for a dependent child award, you must also meet the member eligibility requirements above.
Tuition Award Information
- To apply for a tuition award, you or your dependent child must be an admitted full-time student for the academic year to which the award applies at a two- or four-year accredited institution of higher learning (college/university, community college, or trade, technical, or vocational school).
- The award is for tuition expenses only and will be paid directly to the awardee’s school.
How Tuition Award Winners Are Selected
Award winners will be selected based on their:
- Academic record.
- Leadership accomplishments.
- Community service and volunteerism.
- Essay on the value of effective labor-management relations in the workplace.
- One (1) teacher recommendation.
The JLMC Tuition Award Committee will include two individuals affiliated with member unions, two individuals affiliated with member companies, and the JLMC Chair. The Committee will select winners to receive awards at specified levels to be granted by May 1 preceding the next academic year.
Applying for a Tuition Award
Online application forms must be submitted no later than February 28. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Awards are subject to forfeiture/repayment under any of the following circumstances:
- The student’s GPA in the year of the award falls under 2.5.
- The awardee no longer attends school in the year of award.
- The awardee is no longer a full-time student in year of award and/or
- The award cannot be applied to tuition.
Apply Now!
Tuition Award Program Application for UFCW Members and Employees of Member Companies
Tuition Award Program Application for Dependent Children of UFCW Members and Employees of Member Companies
Important Reminders
Tuition Award winners are chosen at the discretion of the Committee, and its decisions are final and binding. Awards are paid directly to the school to which the recipient has been admitted as necessary to cover tuition expenses.
The Fund considers tuition awards to be excludable from income. Please check with your own tax advisor to determine if you have any tax consequences as the result of receiving benefits for yourself or your children from the Tuition Award program.
Tuition Award Committee
- Ademola Oyefeso, JLMC Trustee & International Vice President and Director Legislative and Political Affairs, UFCW
- Bryan Wynn, JLMC Trustee & International Vice President and National Bargaining Director, UFCW
- Darin Torosian, JLMC Member & Vice President, Human Resources, The Kroger Company
- Scott Powers, JLMC Trustee & President, Allied Employers
- Michele Murphy, JLMC Chair