By: Akii Butler

Congratulations to the recipient of the 2024 AFSCME Family Scholarship program, Lillian Schofield.

Lillian is the daughter of Dave Schofield, an operator and chemist for the City of Ravenna Wastewater treatment plant, as well as the treasurer for AFSCME Local 3812.

“I started working [for the City of Ravenna) about a little over 18 years ago. I worked three years with a guy who was the treasurer, and he was retiring and asked me if I would like to take it over for him and I’ve since been in this role for the last 15 years.”

Last year, Lillian discovered the scholarship program while completing a school project during her junior year of high school.

“We learned about unions during my junior year, in my teacher Ms. Brennan’s class. We researched different unions and the one I had had a scholarship program, I remembered my dad was part of a union, so I decided to see if his union had a program as well, I found it and applied a year later.”

“I’m really happy for her,” said her father Dave Schofield, “She deserves it, she’s a good student and gets straight A’s and it’ll help out in paying for college.”

Dave is also thankful for his union and what it has done for him and his family.

“My union has helped us out a lot, for different reasons. Besides medical plans, and her scholarship, it’s given me job security and there is always somebody standing up for you whenever you need them.”

Lillian, a graduate from Bio Med Academy, in Rootstown, Ohio, plans to attend Ohio State University where she will study Actuarial Science, and hopes to become an actuary.

The AFSCME Family Scholarship Program provides ten $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors that will be renewed for $2,000 each year for a maximum of four years. The scholarship is awarded each year. If you or someone you know has a child that plans on attending college after graduating high school, you can find more information here: https://www.afscme.org/member-resources/scholarships/afscme-family-schol...