Roy Stommel (left), Abriella Stommel (middle) and Stephanie Stommel (right).
Union Plus recently awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 205 students representing 41 unions, including one winner representing the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM). This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes university, college, and trade or technical school students from 39 states and the District of Columbia. The TCU/IAM winner is Abriella Blessing Stommel of Lincoln, Nebraska. Stommel, whose father, Roy Stommel, is a member of TCU/IAM Local 1288, has been awarded a $500 scholarship.
Abriella majors in biology with minors in Spanish and Psychology at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where she is a member of the Prairie Wolves varsity cheer squad. She expects to graduate in May 2024 and aspires to become a Pediatric Physician Assistant. Abriella worked with two cardiovascular physician assistants at Lincoln’s CHI Health Clinic Heart Institute for her practicum during the 2022-23 academic year.
In addition to her father being a TCU/IAM member, Abriella’s mother, Stephanie Stommel, is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). “My parents have taught me a lot about each union over the years,” Abriella said. “Unions assist members in various ways, including protecting fair wages and health benefits through contract negotiations. Unions also create a social forum for members apart from the workplace.”
Congratulations Abriella!