NYSUT local unions value education. Every spring, they show it by awarding scholarships worth millions to graduating students.

What follows is a sampling of the variety of giving:

The North Colonie TA raises money for scholarships by staging humorous sketches.

The Catskill Teachers Association gives four of its six end-of-the-year scholarships to graduates going into teaching.

Copenhagen Central School TA awards $250 to a future educator who has written a good essay about why they hope to lead a classroom some day.

Amityville TA offers the $1,000 Maxine Postal Memorial Scholarship to a student pursuing a career in education. The Marcellus Faculty Association gives a $750 prize to a senior considering becoming a teacher.

"It's validation for everything students have done in the past four years," said Michael Hunt, president of Mahopac TA, which gives more than $7,000 in student scholarships. "We get to see the looks of pride on their faces but, more importantly, they get to see the look of pride on their teachers' faces."

East Islip TA gives out five scholarships of $1,500 apiece, the Anthony Burriesci Scholarships, for students going into nursing.

United University Professions' Scholarship Trust Fund and Benefit Trust gives out many scholarships. UUP represents academic and professional faculty at the State University of New York.

New this year are the Buffalo Teachers Federation's Make a Dream Come True Scholarships. BTF will award $500 scholarships to the sons and daughters of 20 members.

The United Federation of Teachers, NYSUT's affiliate in New York City schools, divides $1 million among 200 deserving students each year for the Albert Shanker Scholarship Awards commemorating the union pioneer.

There are many reasons to give. Amityville provides awards in art, music, photography and journalism to high school and middle-level students in addition to a writing contest with a winner picked from every grade, K-12.

In Copenhagen, school and community spirit earns two students $150 each every year.

Locals find many ways to finance scholarships. Amityville teachers donate to a "spirit fund" on Fridays for a dress-down day.

Brockport TA funds scholarships by holding a carnival in March and donating profits from faculty vending machines.

Berlin TA is trying to finance a scholarship through proceeds from a play to be put on entirely by faculty members.

— Denise Clapham and Andrew Waite