UFT Puts Out Call for District 26 Scholarship Applications

The United Federation of Teachers is calling parents to send in applications for scholarships that will be handed out to local schoolchildren at District 26’s annual dinner dance this spring.

The sixth annual District Scholarship Dinner Dance will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on May 31 at Floral Park’s Floral Terrace.

During the event, the UFT will announce the winners of six annual awards and scholarships. Parents should send in an application for their children that is postmarked no later than April 14.

The scholarships will be presented to the winners in the form of a bond valued up to $1,000.

Each award is given to the winner of a contest held by the UFT.

For the Third Annual Alexandra Falabella Pre-Kindergarten Award, applicants must draw a picture of their favorite activity in school, while kindergarten and first grade students must draw a detailed picture and write about their favorite activity for the Jessica Martell Early Childhood Award.

Second and third graders should write one to three paragraphs about their favorite subject and why it is their favorite for the Steven Petillo Elementary Award.

The Fajir Javid Elementary Award, which is aimed at fourth and fifth graders, calls for students to write about something they have learned in 300 to 500 words.

For the Middle School award, students must write about how they can make a difference in their community in 500 to 750 words.

High school students should write 750 to 1,000 words about a community service project on which they have worked, discussing how the initiative made an impact on their lives, for the Firefighter Henry Miller Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

All entries must be on 8 ½-inch x 11-inch paper. Pieces of writing should be typed and double-spaced.

For more information, call UFT District 26’s representative, Mary Vaccaro, at 718-275-4400.

The rules stipulate that all applicants must attend District 26 public schools, entries must meet grade level writing standards and students must have passing grades, satisfactory behavior and no more than 10 absences for the current school year.

In addition, each submission must include the student’s name, school, contact information and a permission slip from their parent or guardian attached.

District 26 includes a number of schools and neighborhoods, including Douglaston's , Little Neck, Bayside, Bellerose and Queens Village.

Applications should be mailed to:

UFT/District 26 Scholarship Committee

97-77 Queens Blvd., 5th Floor

Rego Park, NY 11374

Attention: Mary Vaccaro, UFT District 26 Representative.