To All Grand Lodge Representatives, Special Representatives, Grand Lodge Auditors, Organizers, Business Representatives, Airline and Railroad General Chairpersons, District Lodge Secretary-Treasurers, Local Lodge Recording Secretaries, State and Provincial Councils and Territorial Education and Communications Representatives, TCU/IAM Executive Council, Carmen Division Officers, National Representatives, Assistant National Representatives and Local Lodge Officers
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
It is with renewed enthusiasm that we are beginning another year for the IAM Scholarship Competition. Enclosed you will find the 2025 Scholarship Competition Overview that covers the rules and regulations for children of IAM members that are planning to graduate high school in 2025, as well as IAM members wanting to continue their education. To be able to inform members of the opportunities for themselves and their children, lodge officers are encouraged to read and discuss the document thoroughly. Please note that in addition to the four-year college scholarship, we also offer a two-year vocational-technical scholarship. At the 2004 Grand Lodge convention, the delegates voted unanimously to name one of the scholarships after Roman A. Mayfield, a 55-year member of D.L. 751, now deceased. The Roman Mayfield award is given to one scholarship recipient who best represents the spirit of volunteerism and the keen sense of service to their community that was a hallmark of Brother Mayfield.
I thought it was important that while we inform you of the competition, I also bring you up to date on the financial condition of our Scholarship Program.
Since its implementation in 1960, the Scholarship Competition has continued to grow. Our financial resources were strong in the beginning, and we were able to award as many as thirty scholarships each year. This past year, 2023-2024, we received over three hundred applications for scholarships. The fund-raiser that was held in January was an enormous success and allowed us to award sixteen scholarships valued at $64,000. With your lodge’s help, we will continue this program and, hopefully, refuel the funding to include awarding more scholarships in future years.
By Convention resolution, the delegates decided that voluntary contributions to finance the funding be set at .50 cents per member per year. If your lodge has not adopted this resolution or has not contributed for this year, please give it sincere consideration at your next lodge meeting. The check should be made payable to the “IAM Scholarship Fund.” An official donation call letter is sent out in January of each year.
To keep up with current times, we have made our Scholarship Competition application and review process fully accessible from the web. All applicants can access applications and apply directly through our website. Applications will be accepted beginning October 1, 2024, and ending February 3, 2025. Scholarship Winners are announced in the IMAIL, and all current and past winners are available to view at www.goiam.org, under the Scholarship Department page. 2024 Scholarship Competition winners were announced in the IMAIL dated April 22, 2024.
It is imperative that all potential applicants review the eligibility requirements prior to starting an on-line application. Eligible Applicants can apply at the goiam.org website: https://scholarship.goiam.org/
Although information is available online and will be sent out in the IMAIL, we count on you to make this information available on bulletin boards, at your lodge meetings and ask all stewards to inform members at their places of work. Your cooperation in this effort is particularly important in order to end the disappointments expressed in past years by members who learn about the Scholarship Competition too late.
If you have any questions about the Scholarship Program or our new application process, please call our Scholarship Department, 301-967-4708.
With best wishes, I remain.
Fraternally yours,
Brian Bryant
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
