CTUF Scholarships

Karen GJ Lewis, NBCT, Scholarship Award

Karen GJ Lewis, a National Board Certified Teacher, was elected president of the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010. Through her bold leadership, she changed the narrative around public education in Chicago and the United States. During her tenure, the CTU created a model for union organizing and the fight for education justice and built strong and lasting relationships with parents and community organizations across the city.

To honor Karen GJ Lewis’s immense contributions to labor, education, social justice, and community engagement, the Children & Teachers Foundation of the Chicago Teachers Union will award a one-time, non-renewable $10,000 education scholarship to promote and encourage the next generation of Black teacher leaders in Chicago’s public schools.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

1. Applicants must be US citizens, or meet the “undocumented students” criteria of the RISE Act and identify as Black/African American.
2. Applicants must be accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis as an undergraduate in a teacher preparation program, or alternative licensure program, at an accredited not-for-profit, public or private American college or university, which, upon completion, qualifies the applicant to be licensed as a school teacher by the Illinois State Board of Education.
3. Applicants must be enrolled as a CPS student in the academic year of 2023-24 or must be an adult going back to college to become a teacher.
4. Applicants must:
   • demonstrate Financial Need by having applied for FAFSA financial aid through the US Dept. of Education (FAFSA.gov), and/or
   • provide a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR), or
   • provide their college or university’s Needs Analysis, or
   • provide a statement of financial need indicating why the scholarship is needed to overcome financial obstacles in gaining access to higher education.

How to Apply

The application submission window is closed and will open on May 1, 2025. 

For all inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact Charise Bennett, CTUF Director, at charisebennett@ctuf.org.

Become a supporter of our future Black education leaders by donating and sending encouraging words to current and future recipients. Click the button below where your contribution will go directly to the Karen GJ Lewis Scholarship Fund. Use the “Mail Box” to send messages of encouragement that we will share with the recipients and our community!

Donate to the Karen GJ Lewis Scholarship Fund

CTUF Academic Scholarship Awards 

Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Teachers Union Foundation shall present regular, vocational, and special education awards each in the amount of $1,000.

ELIGIBILITY

The awards are entirely unrestricted regarding race, religion, political affiliation, or choice of an accredited college, university, business, trade or vocational school. The applicant must be a child of a currently employed, active member in good standing of the Chicago Teachers Union, or a child of a deceased member who was in good standing with the Chicago Teachers Union at the time of death, and a high school senior who will graduate this year before August 31, 2024, Special education students are eligible for all scholarships and are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please make certain that the application is completed in full and that it is signed by the applicant and the parent or guardian so that membership can be verified before presentation to the Scholarship Committee of the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THIS APPLICATION:

1. Transcript including class rank.
2. Extracurricular activities record.
3. College entrance test scores. (Write “none” if the applicant has not taken any tests.)
4. List of all monetary scholarships or awards received. (Write “none” if no awards have been received.)
5. Applicant’s work employment record, including the type of work, the approximate number of years, approximate hours per week. (Write “none” if the applicant has no employment record.)
6. A 500 word or less, typed statement from the applicant on “What I hope to gain from a postsecondary education.”
7. Statement of recommendation from a teacher, dean, counselor, or other school educator.
8. For special education—proof of enrollment in a special education program from a teacher, dean, counselor, or administrator.

INCOMPLETE INFORMATION WILL BE CAUSE FOR REJECTION

The application window for the CTUF Academic Scholarship is now closed. 

The completed forms should be mailed to:

Scholarship Committee
Chicago Teachers Union Foundation
1901 W. Carroll Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60612-2401

A list of the winners will be published in the Chicago Union Teacher magazine. The material received by the Committee will become the property of the Committee and will not be returned.

CTUF Scholarships awarded in honor of…

Jacqueline B. Vaughn

Jacqueline Barbara Vaughn had the distinction of being the first female and the first African American president of Chicago Teachers Union. Elected in 1984, she served until her death in 1994. Under her leadership, the Union conducted the longest strike in Chicago’s history (19 days). Mrs. Vaughn also served as President to the Illinois Federation of Teachers from 1989 to 1994 and as a vice president to the American Federation of Teachers. She also initiated education reform and restructuring initiatives through the establishment of the CTU Quest Center.

John M. Fewkes

John M. Fewkes was president of Chicago Teachers Union from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1947 to 1966. He was also president of the American Federation of Teachers from 1942 to 1943 and signed the original CTU Charter that amalgamated five small unions into Local 1 of the American Federation of Teachers, in 1937.

Dr. Margaret Burroughs

Dr. Burroughs, taught for more than 20 years at DuSable High School. An artist, she shared with her husband, Charles, an interest in history and a desire to celebrate the achievements of African Americans. In 1961, using their own collection of art and artifacts, Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs established a small museum in three rooms on the first floor of a large house they had recently bought on South Michigan Avenue. Originally called the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, it was renamed in 1968 to honor Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable, the black settler considered the first permanent citizen of what would become the city of Chicago.

Robert M. Healey

Robert Healey was CTU president from 1972 to 1984. His tenure at the helm of the Chicago Teachers Union led to paid vacations for teachers and the introduction of class-size limits. Later, he became president of the Chicago Federation of Labor and reinvigorated the group to involve more than 300 unions and locals and presided over its subsequent rise to political prominence.

Beatrice Lumpkin

Beatrice Lumpkin became a community activist as a high school student in New York. Thanks to a long life and a strong love for people and justice, she has enjoyed more than 80 years of activism. Beginning her career as a high school mathematics teacher, Bea, as she is affectionately called, retired her career in 1990; but continues her activism. Mrs. Lumpkin was recently honored at the 100th anniversary of the American Federation of Teachers as one of its oldest advocates. At 100 years of age, Bea can still be seen marching at Union rallies, and remains interested in multicultural education, and re-inserting into the curriculum the contributions of people of color, women and working people.

Mary J. Herrick

Mary Herrick taught high school from 1922 to 1965. She was actively involved in the teachers’ union movement, commencing this service with her membership in the Federation of Women High School Teachers, 1923 to 1937, and serving as its president from 1933 to 1936. Ms. Herrick became chairman of the Joint Board of Teachers Unions which formed the basis of the Chicago Teachers Union. She served as a vice president of the American Federation of Teachers. Mary Herrick was the first editor of the award winning Chicago Union Teacher newspaper and a prolific author of many printed papers and pamphlets, with her most notable work being The Chicago Public Schools.

Ernestine Cain Brown

Ernestine Cain Brown was a functional vice president teacher assistants and a staunch advocate for Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel. Ernestine served on the PSRP Committees of both the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. Appointed assistant to the president for paraprofessionals, Mrs. Brown became a member of the negotiating team where she was instrumental in initiating the career ladder for teacher assistants.

David M. Peterson

David Peterson taught 7th and 8th grades in CPS. His tenure with the Chicago Teachers Union began as a field representative. Later, as legislative director, David quickly became one of the most respected lobbyist in Springfield. He knew that politics and the legislature had a direct impact on the lives of teachers and education workers, and also understood how to convince legislators about the validity of passing good legislation and defeating harmful proposals.

John E. Desmond

John Desmond was CTU President from 1966 to 1972. He negotiated the first written contract for Chicago teachers. It was considered a model contract and its provisions were written into other teachers’ agreements around the country. His tenure was marked by three-cornered battles waged by the union, the Chicago Board of Education and the Illinois General Assembly over the Chicago school budget. In his six years in office, starting salaries for teachers increased by $4,000. Following his presidency, Mr. Desmond served as a lobbyist for the union. GEOFFREY J. JENNINGS Geoffrey Jennings taught woodshop, drafting and architectural drawing in CPS from 1961 to 1993. He was a proud CTU member and an ardent supporter of the Industrial Arts. He worked tirelessly with his students at Parker (now Robeson) and Kenwood to promote vocational education as a complement to “academic endeavors.” His students won citywide competitions for their creative and innovation designs and executions of those designs, beating schools with much better resources than afforded his students. Mr. Jennings, who died in 1997, is the father of former CTU President Karen GJ Lewis.

William “Bill” Buchanan

Bill Buchanan was a Chicago Public School teacher for twenty-four years, teaching at Farragut and Foreman High Schools. He then earned his National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Mathematics certificate and became an Academic Coach for other math teachers throughout Chicago. He held a firm commitment to public education and his compassion touched the lives of thousands of students. Bill Buchanan’s serious regard for his students’ futures made him highly respected by colleagues and students alike.