The 2026 David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program will grant five $5,000 one-time scholarship awards per year.
Available to BCTGM Members and/or their Children
Who is eligible?
- Children of BCTGM Members who are entering college for the first time in the Fall of 2026
- Members who are starting, or returning to college or technical school in the Fall of 2026
Simple Application Process:
- All applications are online at: BCTGM.org/scholarship
- Choose whether you are applying for the scholarship as the Child of a BCTGM Member or are you a BCTGM Member going to school.
- Print out and fill out the necessary forms and complete the essay.
- Mail or email the completed forms to the Scholarship Office at International Headquarters by March 15, 2026
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOUND HERE
The Scholarship is open to:
- Members of the BCTGM, and
- The children of Members
The International Union will deposit a one-time sum of $5,000 for each scholarship winner with the accredited college, recognized technical or vocational post-secondary school at which the award winner is registered and/or is attending.
Eligibility for Competition
An applicant must be either:
- A Member of the BCTGM in good standing, or
- The child, stepchild, legally adopted child or under the guardianship pf a BCTGM Member is good standing, or the child of a deceased BCTGM Member who had at least five years of membership.
In addition, applicants must be either:
- High School Students planning to enter college, or a recognized technical or vocational post-secondary school for the first time following their graduation during 2026, or
- High School Graduates who have never attended college or a recognized technical or vocational school.
David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarships are NOT available to:
- Applicants who do not intend to work without interruption for a bachelor’s degree or to achieve graduation from a recognized vocational school;
- Members’ children who are attending or have already attended college;
- Graduate students (except if applying as a Member);
- Spouses of Members;
- Grandchildren of Members (unless grandparent is legal guardian).
Procedures
All forms and instructions are available at www.bctgm.org/scholarship
- Each applicant must submit an officials David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program Application Form
- Each applicant must submit an officials David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program Personal Profile Form
- Each applicant must have this high school administrator submit and official David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program Academic Report Form. This report should reflect the first semester grades for the senior year.
- Essay – each applicant is required to write & submit a 250 – 500 word essay to demonstrate applicants ability to organize thoughts and express oneself.
Essay Topic: “Organized Labour’s Contribution to the Welfare of the People of North America”
The purpose of this essay is not to provide a history of the labour movement, but to provide the Board of Judges with an opportunity to discover what you have learned about the labour movement’s important contribution to our society and the impact the BCTGM Union has had on your family.
Tests and Scores
The David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship does not require applicants to submit SAT, ACT or equivalent test scores.
Selections of Scholarship Recipients
A Board of Judges shall choose the winners based upon their judgement of the scholastic records of the contestants, the quality of the essays submitted, and the replies contained in the “Personal Profile”. The Judges shall select the most qualified applicants. One of those selected may be a Member of the BCTGM. The decisions of the Board of Judges shall be final.
Announcement of the winners will be made during the month of May. Upon being notified that a Scholarship Award has been granted, the winner shall immediately notify the David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program to which school the winner has been accepted for proper handling of the one-time scholarship award
.
Please address all inquiries to:
David B. Durkee Memorial Scholarship Program
10401 Connecticut Avenue, Floor 4
Kensington, MD 20895-3961
Phone 301-692-2878 E-Mail jmarques@bctgm.org