The PROTEC17 scholarship program has awarded over $75,000 in scholarships in the last 14 years to members’ dependents to help in their pursuit of a higher education. We are proud to announce that our 2025 scholarship winners are Brayden Wang and Benjamin Sauer.
Each year, the PROTEC17 scholarship is open to the children, grandchildren or dependents of members as they enter or continue their studies in college or technical school. This year, the award amount for the two scholarships – one for an incoming freshman, and one for a continuing college student — was increased from $3,000 to $5,000 to keep pace with the rising costs of a college education.
Scholarship applications were accepted through July 31. In the application, students are asked to demonstrate their academic achievements, educational goals, and extracurricular activities. In addition, applicants submit letters of recommendation and a labor-related essay.
Student essays were evaluated – anonymously to reduce bias – by the PROTEC17 Executive Board. The Board found reading all of the essays very inspiring and rewarding, but a couple of students rose to the top.
Brayden Wang is the child of City of Portland member Xinju Wang, and is our graduating high school student winner. He started this fall at the University of Rochester with dreams to pursue a dual degree in music and biochemistry. He is taking an ambitious 26 credits this semester in courses ranging from music theory to chemistry.
In his scholarship essay, Wang reflected on how his family’s union membership has impacted his path and his values, beyond just providing financial stability and health benefits.
“The most important lesson that being a union family taught me is the transformative power of unity – how individuals, sometimes feel powerless and isolated on their own, can create meaningful change by working together toward a noble goal.”
Benjamin Sauer, child of Pierce County member Joy Sauer, is entering his sophomore year at Pomona College this fall, where he’s pursuing a liberal arts program that will set him up to successfully transfer to CalTech to complete his degree in Civil Engineering. He wants to become an Urban Planner, with a focus on affordable housing and transportation for marginalized families.
“Seeing the racial wealth gap, overt racism, and the persisting affects of redlining and gentrification, I believe my best way of pushing Martin Luther King’s dream forward is by pursuing a career in Urban Planning,” Sauer said in his application.
Both students expressed their extreme gratitude to PROTEC17 for supporting this award and for helping them and their families to ease the financial burden of a college education.
Many thanks to the Board for their continued support and participation in this program. And to all of our applicants and our two winners – best of luck this school year and beyond.