Longtime supporters of the college and university, the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) originally established this award as a non-endowed scholarship in 1982. The union requested in 1997 that the funds be used to create a perpetual endowment to support undergraduate or graduate students within the college who are union members or dependents of members.

Founded in 1903, LIUNA has played a vital role in building America as we know it. The union’s 800,000 members in more than 650 local chapters in the U.S. and Canada work in a wide variety of fields such as state, local and federal government service, as well as health care, mail handling, custodial services, shipbuilding, food service, and hazardous waste removal (including asbestos and lead).

Throughout his career of service to the Laborers International Union of North America, Arthur Coia was an eloquent advocate for innovation and creativity in organizing, collective bargaining, education and training, workers’ health and job safety issues, and for effective labor-management relations based on mutual respect. He retired in February 2000 as president of LIUNA and as a vice president of the AFL-CIO.

R. P. “Bud” Vinall served LIUNA for 57 years. Upon his retirement in November of 1998, he was bestowed the title “General Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus” of LIUNA to honor his long-time commitment and leadership to the members of the unio