About the Scholarship

Each year, the Chicago Federation of Labor awards 10 William A. Lee Memorial Scholarships to high school seniors, five to the winners of the Academic Competition, and five to the winners of the Random Drawing. Applicants must choose to enter either the Random Drawing or Academic Competition for the William A. Lee Memorial Scholarship. Students are not eligible to enter both categories.

The Chicago Federation of Labor renamed the scholarship in 1985 to honor Mr. William A. Lee, the CFL’s longest-serving president. Mr. Lee devoted over 60 years to the cause of labor, civic and community service, with 38 of those years at the CFL.

Deadline to Apply
Completed applications must be received by the Chicago Federation of Labor by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Applications should be emailed to scholarship@chicagolabor.org. All parts of the application should be turned in at the same time.

Academic Application
English | Espanol | Polski

Random Application
English | Espanol | Polski

Congratulations to the winners of the
2026 William A. Lee Memorial Scholarship!

Brooke Booth (IUOE Local 150)
Elizabeth Bruton (AFSCME Council 31)
Ryan Keane (IUOE Local 399)
Kevin Leonardo Moreno Gamboa (Laborers Local 4)
Gianna Navar (West Suburban Teachers Local 571)
Chayse Radcliff (CTU Local 1)
Molly Strahanoski (IUOE Local 399)
Jordan Swearingen (Teamsters Local 781)
Adam Winkowski (IUOE Local 399)
Veronica Wrona (IBEW Local 134