It’s scholarship season - that time of year when students and their families locate and apply for funding to pay for tuition and other college expenses. A number of scholarships exist specifically for ILWU members or their children who are pursuing higher education. But the system is not always easy to navigate as applicants need to access various applications, keep track of deadlines, and ensure all required materials are completed. This is a guide for our members who are looking to apply for scholarships, either for themselves or for their children.

Changes to Harriet Bouslog Scholarship Important for Members to Know

The most well-known scholarship available to members and children of members of the ILWU Local 142 is the Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship.

As of this year, the scholarship application is now being managed through the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation and applications go through the University of Hawaiʻi System Common Scholarship Application. What does this mean for student applicants?

Application in a new location

First, the application is no longer found on the Harriet Bouslog Labor Scholarship Fund website (harrietbouslog.com). This website is still useful for learning about the scholarship but the application is now housed with UH.

Second, students who wish to apply for the Harriet Bouslog Scholarship will need to complete the UH System Common Scholarship application. The deadline is 4 p.m. on March 2, 2026.

Ensuring a strong application

The quality or completeness of the application is no longer monitored by the Harriet Bouslog Scholarship staff or the ILWU staff — it is solely processed through the University of Hawaiʻi, along with applications for hundreds of other scholarships.

This means two things:

1. The application must be complete and well done PRIOR to its submission. Once it is submitted, there is no follow-up on incomplete applications, on low-quality essays, or on incomplete letters of recommendation. Once the application is submitted, there is no way for ILWU or Harriet Bouslog support staff to access the application.
   
    
2. Because applications no longer go through the hands of Harriet Bouslog staff, students will not enjoy the same proactive support they once enjoyed throughout the application process, such as calls if the application is incomplete, or notifications of recommendation to rewrite essays. But applicants can still access support!

Students must be proactive

The ILWU is holding a financial aid workshop on January 22 from 5:30–7 p.m. for all ILWU members interested in the Harriet Bouslog Scholarship and other scholarships. It will be held via Zoom. Make it a priority to attend this workshop.

Reach out to ILWU Local 142 Education Specialist, Ilima Long, before submitting your final UH Common Scholarship application if you would like support ensuring your application is complete and ready for submission. Do not wait until the last minute.

Access support services on your campus: high school counselors if you are a senior, or student support centers and writing centers if you are already enrolled at a college.

Scholarship season can be stressful, but planning ahead, knowing where to turn for support, and paying attention to deadlines are the keys to ensuring successful applications.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

The Harriet Bouslog Scholarship is no longer accessed through harrietbouslog.com or through Scholars App. The only place to apply for the scholarship is the UH System Common Scholarship website. If you or your family member applied for the 2026 scholarship through the harrietbouslog.com or the Scholars App, it is void and you need to apply through UH.