PITTSBURGH (April 14, 2004) - The May 1 deadline is fast approaching for submitting applications for AFTRA Pittsburgh Scholarship Fund awards for the 2004 - 2005 Academic Year, according to Scholarship Committee Chair, Mark Roberts.

The AFTRA/Dan Mallinger Scholarship Fund was established to honor our longtime Executive Director, Dan Mallinger, and now memorializes him as well as many other AFTRA members and executives who cared about and contributed to the Union.

Scholarships are offered by the Fund to Pittsburgh AFTRAns and their dependents for academic study in any field including broadcast, journalism and labor relations, or for professional training in the arts.

Eligibility requires AFTRA membership in good standing for at least five years. The criteria for the limited number of scholarships available are academic excellence, financial need and acceptance/enrollment in a university, professional school or other accredited institution of higher education.

Requests for applications are accepted during the months of January, February, March, and April, and should include a stamped self-addressed envelope. The deadline for the submission of applications, including all required materials, is May 1st. Applications are carefully considered and award decisions made in June; and applicants are notified accordingly.

Several scholarships are currently awarded up to a maximum of $1000 each and are funded entirely by contributions to the AFTRA/Dan Mallinger Scholarship Fund.