Major League Baseball Players Trust Announces Recipients of 2016 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies
NEW YORK, Monday, February 22, 2016/3BL Media/ The Major League Baseball Players Trust today announced the five recipients of a 2016 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies, established by Major Leaguers to honor the life and work of the Major League Baseball Players Association’s late executive director.
The 2016 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies recipients are:
Stephanie Ainbinder – Northeastern University School of Law
Brian Callaci – University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Nathalie Contreras – Southwestern Law School
Benjamin Kowalczyk – UCLA School of Law
Denis Nolasco – Fordham University School of Law
These five outstanding individuals are being honored for their demonstrated commitment to pursuing careers dedicated to improving the lives of workers. Each recipient will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Players Trust to help defray some of their academic costs.
“It is an honor and a privilege to announce the 2016 recipients of a Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies,” said Players Trust Director, Melissa Persaud. “Each of this year’s winners possesses the spirit and passion of Michael and his unending desire to protect the rights of workers. I’m confident that every Michael Weiner Scholarship winner will carry on Michael’s legacy of serving others with honor, dignity and grace.”
Weiner spent 25 years, nearly his entire professional career, with the MLBPA working in support of the Players – past, present and future. Despite being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in August of 2012, Weiner waged an inspiring battle against his disease as he continued to work on behalf of the Players right up to the time of his passing in November 2013, at the age of 51.
To be eligible for the Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies, individuals must be Graduate or Law Students enrolled in an accredited educational institution in the United States or Canada and must have a demonstrated interest in, and wish to make a career out of, working in the labor movement and on behalf of workers’ rights. To receive an award, eligible candidates must meet a combination of criteria:
· A superior academic record
· A demonstrable commitment to the labor movement
· A strong recommendation from an academic or a labor/workers’ rights practitioner
· Excellent written and oral communication skills
Preference also is given to those who can demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) scores or otherwise.
The scholarship application for the 2017 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies will be posted in June 2016, at http://playerstrust.org/programs/michael-weiner-scholarship-labor-studies/
About the Major League Baseball Players Trust
Through the Players Trust, Major Leaguers contribute their time, money and celebrity to call attention to important causes affecting the needy and to help encourage others to get involved in their own communities. Each year the Players Trust distributes more than $1.5 million in annual grants and programs, and inspires hundreds of thousands of high school students to volunteer in their communities through the Action Team national youth volunteer program. For additional information, please visit www.PlayersTrust.org and follow the Trust on Twitter (@MLBPlayersTrust) and Instagram (mlbplayerstrust).
