Major League Baseball Players Trust Announces Recipients of 2017 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies

New York, February 23, 2017 /3BL Media/ - When Major League Baseball Players lost their beloved union leader, Michael Weiner, to brain cancer in November 2013, they turned to their collective charitable arm, the Players Trust, to find a way to honor his life’s passion for helping others.  By mid-2014, during that season’s All-Star Game in Minnesota, the Players announced the creation of the Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies.

Each year since 2015, the Players Trust has recognized five outstanding graduate or law school students for their demonstrated commitment to pursuing careers dedicated to improving the lives of workers with a $10,000 scholarship to help defray some of their academic costs.

The 2017 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies recipients are:

Melissa Britton – City University of New York Law School

Colleen Fewer – Berkeley School of Law (CA)

Samantha Groark – University of Missouri School of Law

Susannah Maltz – City University of New York Law School

Tyler Somes – University of Texas School of Law

“Now in its third year, the Michel Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies continues to help shine a light on some of our country’s best and brightest students dedicated to pursuing a career protecting the rights of workers,” said Players Trust Director, Melissa Persaud.  “Michael would be extremely proud of these young individuals, and I’m confident they will continue 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 2018 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies will be posted in July 2017, 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).