Each year, two UWUA members’ children are awarded college scholarships through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC).
This year’s UWUA National Merit Scholarship winners are Cass Dobrowolski, child of Michigan Local 223’s Daniel Dobrowolski, and Liam Ouderkirk, child of New York Local 1-2’s John Ouderkirk.
Children of UWUA members are also eligible to apply for a Union Plus scholarship. Since 1991, the Union Plus Scholarship program has awarded more than $5 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.
This year’s UWUA Union Plus Scholarship winner is Jacob Shutic, child of Local 270 member Patrick Shutic.
Cass Dobrowolski
Cass is the son of Dan Dobrowolski. an active member of Local 223 who has worked at the St. Clair powerplant for over 20 years. Dan currently is an operator there. Dan also sits on the Power Gen. committee for the local.
Cass graduated from Port Huron Northern as the Salutatorian with a 4.41 GPA. He was named to the all-state team for track twice for two separate events, the high jump and the 110 meter hurdles. His exceptional talents will be taking him to Hillsdale College, where he will be a scholarship member of the track team.
When asked: How has his father’s experience as a UWUA member shaped his life and future, Cass replied, “It’s provided me with opportunity and has shown me what a good work ethic means.”
Liam Ouderkirk
Liam is the son of John Ouderkirk, an 11-year Local 1-2 member who works at the NAES yard in Astoria, Queens. Liam started the honors program at the University of South Carolina in Columbia this fall. He is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology and hopes to attend medical school to pursue a career as a Radiologist.
Jacob Shutic
Jacob is the son of Patrick Shutic, a 35-year member of Ohio Local 270, and his wife Janice, a former UWUA member. Jacob simultaneously earned his high school diploma from iSTEM Geauga Early College High School (ECHS), in Painesville, Ohio and Associate of Arts and Science degrees from Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio.
He is attending a four-year university this fall and majoring in aerospace engineering. Among the top students in his iSTEM Geauga ECHS graduating class, Jacob is passionate about the engineering field and pioneering new innovations.
“My parents have been shown the ongoing respect and appreciation for a long day of hard work,” Jacob says. “My family’s time in UWUA has provided me with unforgettable blessings and lessons such as the utilization of quiet diplomacy, the value of constructive debate, the usefulness of knowledge, and the self-worth to stick up for myself in a respectful manner.”