The Construction Craft Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Fund announced its annual scholarship winners for 2024. Six students graduating high school this year are being awarded $120,000 in college scholarships payable over four years.
The CCLTAF Scholarship Program is open to the children or legal dependents of LIUNA members from the Locals 3, 77, 78, and 199. The students are competitively chosen by an independent panel from among the many student applicants from New Jersey and Delaware. Since its inception in 2007, CCLTAF has awarded more than $1 million in college scholarships.
“We are proud to support these young men and women,” said CCLTAF Chairman Michael E. Hellstrom. “They have proved themselves in so many ways—in the classroom and through athletics, the arts, community service, and other in-school and out-of-school activities. It is a testament to their hard work, and the hard work of Union Laborers who fund these scholarships, that we can offer these awards for college study.”
Jack Kocsis, CEO of the Association of Construction Contractors of New Jersey and Co-Chairman of the CCLTAF remarked at the varied interests and abilities of the scholarship recipients. “From future engineers and computer scientists, to majors in business and political science, these graduates will be tomorrow’s leaders in so many different industries.” Kocsis continued: “The union construction industry—laborers and contractors—chose to dedicate their resources and provide these scholarships so these young men and women can be the best they can be. My hope is they never forget where this support came from and when they are in the position, find a way to pay it forward.”
Here are the 2024 Construction Craft Laborers Training and Apprenticeship Fund Scholarship Winners. The best of the best!
Fiona Balli
Montclair State University
Daughter of Local 77’s Skender Balli
Emi Gjyla
Montclair State University
Daughter of Local 3’s Spartak Gjyla
Khiry Higgs
Virginia State University
Son of Local 77’s Khary Higgs
Bishop Lane
Howard University
Son of Local 199’s David Lane
Klevi Misha
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Son of Local 3’s Ilo Misha
Henri Xhukellari
Rutgers University
Son of Local 3’s Genci Xhukellari