New York, NY— Thirty-one students today won scholarships for undergraduate and graduate education from the Building Service 32BJ Thomas Shortman Training, Scholarship and Safety Fund, a joint labor-management program open to dependents of members of 32BJ in the greater New York area. The students, who come from throughout the metropolitan area, were honored at a luncheon today at 32BJ headquarters in lower Manhattan.

“We are proud to honor these remarkable young men and women who are our future professors, doctors, scientists and so much more,” said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ. “The Thomas Shortman Fund is one of the hallmarks of 32BJ. Through education and training for members and academic scholarships for their children, 32BJ members have the chance to build a good life for themselves and their families.”

This year, 23 high school graduates going on to college and eight students going on to graduate school received academic scholarships to schools that include Cardozo Law School, Cornell University, Hunter College and New York University. Each undergraduate scholarship provides $4,000 annually for four years at the students’ college of choice, while each graduate scholarship provides $8,000 annually for the life of the program.

The scholarships recognize the students’ achievements in academics and beyond. “Overcoming language and cultural barriers, caring for ailing family members, and holding part-time jobs to help family finances are just a few of the inspirational challenges these young people faced and wrote about in their application essays,” said Linda Nelson, Director of the Shortman Training Fund.

Representatives from the labor and management program who attended the event included: Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ; Howard Rothschild, President of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations Inc.

The Shortman Fund was founded in 1968, and since 1974, Thomas Shortman Scholarships have been enhancing educational opportunities for dependents of 32BJ members.

With more than 120,000 members, including 70,000 in New York City, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.

2012 THOMAS SHORTMAN TRAINING, SCHOLARSHIP and SAFETY FUND SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

UNDERGRADUATE RECIPIENTS

GRADUATE RECIPIENTS

2012 REALTY FOUNDATION OF NEW YORK SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS