First Master’s Degrees Conferred in IAM’s Empire State College Partnership

Grace DiBartolo and Edison Fraser became the first two IAM members to earn master’s degrees through a partnership with SUNY Empire State College. The school’s graduation ceremonies took place June 7 at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

DiBartolo is a Lead Customer Service Representative at United Airlines and serves as the grievance committee secretary and trustee at IAM Local 914 in Newark, NJ.

“I am very excited. It’s been a long time and I’ve worked very hard,” said DiBartolo. “I dropped out of school over thirty years ago but it’s always been a dream of mine to go back to school.”

Fraser currently serves as a Grand Lodge Representative for the Transportation Territory and initiated into Baltimore IAM Local 846 as a Customer Service Agent for Southwest Airlines.

“I believe this is a wonderful program that the IAM has put together,” said Fraser. “As a leader, if I’m doing higher education, I’m going to encourage all my members to do the same.”

Watch a short video of DiBartolo and Fraser on their graduation day.

The SUNY Empire State College Labor Union Partnership Program gives IAM members a practical and affordable opportunity to earn associate, bachelors and master’s degrees.

“It reflects a really remarkable amount of hard work and dedication on their part,” said William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center Director Chris Wagoner. “ And we’re really proud and excited that this partnership has come to fruition in this way.”

Click here to get information on the program.

The post First Master’s Degrees Conferred in IAM’s Empire State College Partnership appeared first on IAMAW.