Established in 1982, the AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Family Scholarship program was created to honor Council 8 leaders and provide financial assistance to the children of members attending a four-year college or university.

Originally offered as a single four-year grant, the program expanded to include a men’s and women’s scholarship in 1989. Over the 40-year life of the program, more than 70 college-bound children of Council 8 members have received more than $500,000 in tuition assistance. 

While proud of all the scholarship winners fulfilling their higher education goals, one success story stands out.

Dr. Adam Shope AFSCME Ohio Council 8 1994 Scholarship Recipient

According to his father Joe Shope, a long-time member of AFSCME Local 101 at the Green County Highway Department, “ever since he was about eight years old, all Adam ever wanted was to become a doctor. We told him if he put his mind to it, worked and studied hard, he would succeed.”

When Adam won the AFSCME Ohio Council 8 scholarship it was a “real blessing” because the family already had one child in college at the time. Because of the scholarship, Adam didn’t have to get an outside job and was able to devote all his time to his studies. “That scholarship made a big difference for Adam, as I’m sure it does for every family that receives it”, Shope said.

The scholarship helped pay for his undergraduate pre-medical degree from, Whittenburg University, where he graduated in 1998. He then completed his medical studies at Toledo’s Medical College of Ohio, now known as the University of Toledo Medical Center, and includes employees who are members of AFSCME Local 2415. 

After graduating in 2003, as an emergency room physician, Dr. Shope embarked on a distinguished career fulfilling the goal he expressed in his 1994 scholarship essay; “to be a part of the great history mankind has made in the field of medicine.” 

The 1994 AFSCME Ohio Council 8 men’s scholarship was named in honor of Hubert Bryant. Bryant was instrumental in the formation of AFSCME Local 100 helping turn the union into a strong voice for Cleveland city workers. Bryant was also elected as AFSCME Ohio Council’s first president during the 1978 unification convention. 

Please stay tuned to learn more about applying for the 2023 Scholarship or check out other AFSCME-related scholarships  here.