International Operating Engineer - Fall 2017

IUOE Family Members Awarded
2017 Union Plus Scholarships
Winners Honored for Achievement and Union Values
UNION PLUS RECENTLY awarded $150,000 in scholarships
to 106 students representing 31 unions, including five
winners representing the International Union of Operating
Engineers (IUOE). This year’s group of scholarship recipients
includes university, college, and trade or technical school
students from 35 states.
The Union Plus Scholarship Program, now in its 26th year,
awards scholarships based on outstanding academic
achievement, personal character, financial need and
commitment to the values of organized labor. The program is
offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.
IUOE Local 4—Mackenzie Brooks
Brooks, whose father, David Brooks, is a member of IUOE Local 4, has been awarded a
$1,000 scholarship. Mackenzie is a 2017 high school graduate who will begin college
this fall. She has aspired to be a pediatric nurse since she was young and will pursue a
degree in that field. Mackenzie has worked at a grocery store since 2013, saving money
for her college expenses. Her maternal grandfather, who at age 20 immigrated to the
United States from Newfoundland, Canada, was able to return to his union job after
serving in the Korean War, and experienced many other union benefits. Mackenzie said
that union membership has provided her family with support, reassurance and financial
stability through the years. “The union provides one voice and sticks up for each person
who is affiliated with them,” Mackenzie said. “By doing this, they are taking care of each
individual in an immediate and extended family.”
Alexander Comshaw-Arnold
Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded
more than $4.2 million in educational funding to more than
2,800 union members, spouses and dependent children.
Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students
attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate
school or recognized technical or trade school. The selection
process is very competitive, and this year over 5,100
applications were received from 65 unions and all 50 states
plus the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories.
Visit UnionPlus.org/Scholarship for applications and
benefit eligibility.
Meet the 2017 IUOE Honorees
IUOE Local 18—Alexander Comshaw-Arnold
Comshaw-Arnold, whose mother, Kathryn Mackenzie Brooks
Comshaw-Arnold, is a member of IUOE Local 18,
has been awarded a $1,00 scholarship. Alex, who
was a 2016 Union Plus scholarship recipient, is an economics major at The Ohio State
University. He has a passion for business and plans to pursue a Master of Business
Administration after graduating in December. Alex will have completed his bachelor’s
degree in less than three years after completing two years of post-secondary education
while at Fairless High School in Navarre, Ohio, where he graduated valedictorian in 2015.
He works as an economics research assistant for Dr. Daeho Kim at Ohio State. Alex’s
mother is a second-generation union member, and he believes unions affect families and
change lives. “Labor unions have a proud heritage in American history and played a vital
role in healing not just the economy but also families,” he said. “I am proud of my union
heritage and prouder still to be part of a union family.”
Ashlyn Darnell
IUOE Local 399—Ashlyn Darnell
Darnell, whose father, Matthew Darnell, is a member of IUOE Local 399, has been awarded
a $4,000 scholarship. Having graduated high school in 2017 with 34 college credit hours
and a certified nursing assistant (CNA) certificate, Ashlyn will enroll at Southern Illinois
University Edwardsville this fall as a nursing major. Between her junior and senior years she
joined the U.S. Army and attended basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
She will attend advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, this summer
and will participate in Army ROTC while in college, continuing to serve in her engineering
battalion. She intends to graduate as an active-duty U.S. army nurse officer with the rank
of second lieutenant. Ashlyn was recognized by congressman John Shimkus on the floor
of the U.S. House of Representatives for her Army service while in high school. Ashlyn,
whose mother, Melissa Darnell, is an American Federation of Teachers (AFT) member,
said the labor movement has been the fabric of her life. “My values and personal character
traits have been heavily influenced by the dedicated union people in my life,” Ashlyn said.
“Collective bargaining has enabled our family to enjoy a middle-class livelihood and good
medical insurance coverage, and will ensure a dignified retirement for my parents.”
IUOE Local 3—Breanna Kjoll
Kjoll, whose father, Tore Kjoll, is a member of IUOE Local 3, has been awarded a $2,000
scholarship. Breanna is a 2017 graduate of The Davidson Academy of Nevada and will
begin college this fall as an animal science major. She aspires to become a veterinarian and
is interested in exploring how animals can help people with diverse needs and disabilities.
Since February 2016, she has been the sole high school intern in the University of Nevada,
Reno, animal nutrition lab, working with undergraduate and graduate students. Breanna
also interned for an environmental engineering lab in the summer of 2014. Her mother is
a member of the Nevada State Education Association, and Breanna has supported unions
and fair labor practices as president of The Davidson Academy’s Social Justice Club, which
she founded as a freshman. “My parents have always made it clear to me how important
collective bargaining is and the importance of labor unions in their lives,” Breanna said. “I
support the message of inclusion and fairness that makes unions such as IUOE so strong
and essential to the American dream.”
Breanna Kjoll
IUOE Local 3—Christopher Pham
Pham, whose mother, Vivian Pham-Nguyen, is a member of IUOE Local 3, has been
awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Christopher attends New Jersey Medical School as part
of Rutgers University’s seven-year BA/MD program. He completed his undergraduate
degree in biology in January and has been a research lab assistant at the medical school
since beginning at Rutgers. Christopher aspires to become a researcher and physician
specializing in gastroenterology. He was valedictorian of his 2014 graduating class at
Piedmont Hills High School in San José, California. He is certified as a shodan (first-degree
black belt) by the International Aikido Federation, based in Tokyo. Christopher strongly
believes in the labor movement and said his mother’s union membership has a positive
effect on his family. “Because of the union’s efforts, she benefits from stable wages, health
insurance and pensions, which give her the opportunity to spend more quality time at
work and with family,” Christopher said. “I can honestly say that the reason I can go to
college is because of the union’s achievements and work.”
Christopher Pham
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