UFT Scholarship Fund
The Albert Shanker College Scholarship Fund of the United Federation of Teachers
Each year, the United Federation of Teachers proudly awards $1 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships to academically excellent and financially eligible students from New York City public schools. Scholarship winners are living proof that excellence can thrive in New York City schools. Their hard work — and the dedication of all the educators who worked with them — enable them to achieve academic distinction.
The UFT’s Shanker Scholarship 2025 application is now closed.
If you have already submitted an undergraduate scholarship application for 2025, or if you are a current undergraduate scholarship recipient, please use the link below to access our portal.
Frequently asked questions »
- Who can apply for the undergraduate scholarship?
- What about financial eligibility?
- How are winners selected?
- How are the scholarships paid?
Additional information
- Shanker application instructions
- Scholarship rules
- College advisor letter
- Application income requirements
- President's letter
More information about the scholarship and its namesake »
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Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards
Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards
High school seniors may apply for Shanker scholarships
Photo Gallery
Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards 2024
On June 4, the UFT hosted the 55th annual Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards at union headquarters, where families and educators came together to honor a diverse and high-achieving group of students. The union awarded $5,000 scholarships to 189 high school students for undergraduate study and nine scholarships of between $2,000 and $8,000 to college seniors for graduate study.

Honoree Elias Loor, a senior at Leaders HS in Brooklyn, shakes the hand of UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds. Loor says his English teacher, Kenny Price, has inspired him to pursue a career as a New York City teacher.

Honorees Britany Martinez and Alpha Diallo of the International HS at Prospect Heights in Brooklyn make a 360-degree video before the Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards ceremony.

Honoree Jonathan Pinkhas, who is graduating from Francis Lewis HS in Queens this June, waves to family members as he crosses the stage during the scholarship awards ceremony.

Students celebrate a fellow awardee. The Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards were established in honor of Albert Shanker, a union founder.

The Brooklyn award winners pose with (top row, left to right) Brooklyn Borough Representative Elizabeth Perez, UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Joining in the fun with the Bronx high school honorees as they make an X sign, signifying their borough, are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Bronx Borough Representative Mary Atkinson and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

The Manhattan high school award winners face the cameras with (top row, from right) UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Congratulating student Jose Perez IV (second from right), an honoree from Curtis HS on Staten Island, are (from left) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Staten Island IS/HS District Representative Donna Coppola, Staten Island Borough Representative Sean Rotkowitz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Standing with the Queens high school award winners are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Queens Borough Representative Tabio DaCruz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Flanking the graduate study award winners are UFT President Michael Mulgrew (far left), Shanker Scholarship Fund Supervisor Simone Lewis (second from right) and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch (far right). The graduate study awardees won the undergraduate scholarship four years ago.

UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch congratulates the honorees: “Tonight is brought to us by our students’ dedication, determination and all-out grit.”

UFT President Michael Mulgrew encourages the students to continue striving for excellence even in challenging circumstances, emphasizing that the union would continue to support them over the next four years. “We know you can be successful because you’re here, now, overcoming all these challenges,” he said.

Honoree Kareen Joseph-George, who is graduating from the Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment in Brooklyn this June, celebrates with her father, Jeremiah George.

Honoree Elias Loor, a senior at Leaders HS in Brooklyn, shakes the hand of UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds. Loor says his English teacher, Kenny Price, has inspired him to pursue a career as a New York City teacher.

Honorees Britany Martinez and Alpha Diallo of the International HS at Prospect Heights in Brooklyn make a 360-degree video before the Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards ceremony.

Honoree Jonathan Pinkhas, who is graduating from Francis Lewis HS in Queens this June, waves to family members as he crosses the stage during the scholarship awards ceremony.

Students celebrate a fellow awardee. The Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards were established in honor of Albert Shanker, a union founder.

The Brooklyn award winners pose with (top row, left to right) Brooklyn Borough Representative Elizabeth Perez, UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Joining in the fun with the Bronx high school honorees as they make an X sign, signifying their borough, are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Bronx Borough Representative Mary Atkinson and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

The Manhattan high school award winners face the cameras with (top row, from right) UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Congratulating student Jose Perez IV (second from right), an honoree from Curtis HS on Staten Island, are (from left) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Staten Island IS/HS District Representative Donna Coppola, Staten Island Borough Representative Sean Rotkowitz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Standing with the Queens high school award winners are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Queens Borough Representative Tabio DaCruz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Flanking the graduate study award winners are UFT President Michael Mulgrew (far left), Shanker Scholarship Fund Supervisor Simone Lewis (second from right) and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch (far right). The graduate study awardees won the undergraduate scholarship four years ago.

UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch congratulates the honorees: “Tonight is brought to us by our students’ dedication, determination and all-out grit.”

UFT President Michael Mulgrew encourages the students to continue striving for excellence even in challenging circumstances, emphasizing that the union would continue to support them over the next four years. “We know you can be successful because you’re here, now, overcoming all these challenges,” he said.

Honoree Kareen Joseph-George, who is graduating from the Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment in Brooklyn this June, celebrates with her father, Jeremiah George.

Honoree Elias Loor, a senior at Leaders HS in Brooklyn, shakes the hand of UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds. Loor says his English teacher, Kenny Price, has inspired him to pursue a career as a New York City teacher.
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Flanking the graduate study award winners are UFT President Michael Mulgrew (far left), Shanker Scholarship Fund Supervisor Simone Lewis (second from right) and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch (far right). The graduate study awardees won the undergraduate scholarship four years ago.

UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch congratulates the honorees: “Tonight is brought to us by our students’ dedication, determination and all-out grit.”

UFT President Michael Mulgrew encourages the students to continue striving for excellence even in challenging circumstances, emphasizing that the union would continue to support them over the next four years. “We know you can be successful because you’re here, now, overcoming all these challenges,” he said.

Honoree Kareen Joseph-George, who is graduating from the Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment in Brooklyn this June, celebrates with her father, Jeremiah George.

Honoree Elias Loor, a senior at Leaders HS in Brooklyn, shakes the hand of UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds. Loor says his English teacher, Kenny Price, has inspired him to pursue a career as a New York City teacher.

Honorees Britany Martinez and Alpha Diallo of the International HS at Prospect Heights in Brooklyn make a 360-degree video before the Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards ceremony.

Honoree Jonathan Pinkhas, who is graduating from Francis Lewis HS in Queens this June, waves to family members as he crosses the stage during the scholarship awards ceremony.

Students celebrate a fellow awardee. The Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards were established in honor of Albert Shanker, a union founder.

The Brooklyn award winners pose with (top row, left to right) Brooklyn Borough Representative Elizabeth Perez, UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Joining in the fun with the Bronx high school honorees as they make an X sign, signifying their borough, are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Bronx Borough Representative Mary Atkinson and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

The Manhattan high school award winners face the cameras with (top row, from right) UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Congratulating student Jose Perez IV (second from right), an honoree from Curtis HS on Staten Island, are (from left) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Staten Island IS/HS District Representative Donna Coppola, Staten Island Borough Representative Sean Rotkowitz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Standing with the Queens high school award winners are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Queens Borough Representative Tabio DaCruz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Flanking the graduate study award winners are UFT President Michael Mulgrew (far left), Shanker Scholarship Fund Supervisor Simone Lewis (second from right) and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch (far right). The graduate study awardees won the undergraduate scholarship four years ago.

UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch congratulates the honorees: “Tonight is brought to us by our students’ dedication, determination and all-out grit.”

UFT President Michael Mulgrew encourages the students to continue striving for excellence even in challenging circumstances, emphasizing that the union would continue to support them over the next four years. “We know you can be successful because you’re here, now, overcoming all these challenges,” he said.

Honoree Kareen Joseph-George, who is graduating from the Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment in Brooklyn this June, celebrates with her father, Jeremiah George.

Honoree Elias Loor, a senior at Leaders HS in Brooklyn, shakes the hand of UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds. Loor says his English teacher, Kenny Price, has inspired him to pursue a career as a New York City teacher.

Honorees Britany Martinez and Alpha Diallo of the International HS at Prospect Heights in Brooklyn make a 360-degree video before the Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards ceremony.

Honoree Jonathan Pinkhas, who is graduating from Francis Lewis HS in Queens this June, waves to family members as he crosses the stage during the scholarship awards ceremony.

Students celebrate a fellow awardee. The Albert Shanker College Scholarship Awards were established in honor of Albert Shanker, a union founder.

The Brooklyn award winners pose with (top row, left to right) Brooklyn Borough Representative Elizabeth Perez, UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Joining in the fun with the Bronx high school honorees as they make an X sign, signifying their borough, are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Bronx Borough Representative Mary Atkinson and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

The Manhattan high school award winners face the cameras with (top row, from right) UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch.

Congratulating student Jose Perez IV (second from right), an honoree from Curtis HS on Staten Island, are (from left) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Staten Island IS/HS District Representative Donna Coppola, Staten Island Borough Representative Sean Rotkowitz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Standing with the Queens high school award winners are (top row, left to right) UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch, Queens Borough Representative Tabio DaCruz and UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

Flanking the graduate study award winners are UFT President Michael Mulgrew (far left), Shanker Scholarship Fund Supervisor Simone Lewis (second from right) and UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch (far right). The graduate study awardees won the undergraduate scholarship four years ago.

UFT Albert Shanker Scholarship Fund Director Joseph Usatch congratulates the honorees: “Tonight is brought to us by our students’ dedication, determination and all-out grit.”

UFT President Michael Mulgrew encourages the students to continue striving for excellence even in challenging circumstances, emphasizing that the union would continue to support them over the next four years. “We know you can be successful because you’re here, now, overcoming all these challenges,” he said.

Honoree Kareen Joseph-George, who is graduating from the Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment in Brooklyn this June, celebrates with her father, Jeremiah George.

Honoree Elias Loor, a senior at Leaders HS in Brooklyn, shakes the hand of UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds. Loor says his English teacher, Kenny Price, has inspired him to pursue a career as a New York City teacher.