The Major League Baseball Players Trust opens call for scholarship applications
NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2023 – The Major League Baseball Players Trust announced the application period for the 2023 Michael Weiner Scholarship for Labor Studies will be open today through Thursday, Feb. 16. Application forms and additional information can be found on the Michael Weiner Scholarship website page.
This marks the ninth year the Players Trust will provide support to aspiring worker advocates in the name of the Major League Baseball Players Association’s former executive director. The Players Trust will fund up to five scholarships at a minimum of $10,000 each to assist in recipients’ academic costs for the 2023-2024 school year.
Weiner, known for his keen intellect and plain-speaking, congenial demeanor, joined the MLBPA as a staff attorney in 1988 and in December 2009 succeeded Donald Fehr to become the union’s fourth executive director. He held the position until November 2013, when at age 51 he passed away following a 15-month battle with an inoperable brain tumor.
“The reinvigorated and growing labor movement taking shape today will require a new generation of passionate, well-educated and innovative union leaders,” Players Trust Director Amy Hever said. “The Michael Weiner Scholarship program’s mission is to identify and support people who have a passion for labor advocacy and also possess the vision and skills to inspire others. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds, academic and personal experiences to apply.”
The scholarship program launched in July 2014 to commemorate the life and work of Weiner by recognizing and supporting the efforts of students dedicated to improving the lives of workers – characteristics that were embodied by Weiner in his personal life, his studies and throughout his 25-year career with the Players Association. Last year’s Michael Weiner Scholars were Maria Amanda Flores (Northeastern University), Aaron Bryce Lee (Yale University), Juan Fernando Luna Leon (Yale University), Chris Rowley (University of Colorado Boulder), and Forrest Stewart (University of Wisconsin-Madison).
Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee of those who were closest to Weiner, both professionally and personally. The 2023 committee consists of MLBPA Contract Administrator Cindy Abercrombie, Outside Counsel Jeff Fannell, Assistant General Counsel Bob Lenaghan, Senior Advisor to the MLBPA Executive Director Ian Penny and Michael’s wife, Diane Margolin. To date, the Players Trust has awarded over $400,000 in scholarships to future labor leaders.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for an award, applicants must be graduate or law students enrolled in an accredited educational institution in the United States and graduating no sooner than the semester following the scholarship award. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest and wish to pursue a career working in the labor movement on behalf of workers’ rights. To receive an award, eligible candidates must also meet a combination of criteria identified below:
A strong academic record
Demonstrated prior commitment to workers’ rights as shown by employment, volunteer work, or other relevant experience
Demonstrated financial need
A recommendation from an academic or a labor/workers’ rights practitioner
Strong written and oral communication skills
We encourage all interested students to apply as consideration for the scholarship will be based upon a candidate’s entire portfolio.