Mary Jewel Smith Graduate Scholar Award

Established: 2020 in memory of Mary Jewel Smith, one of Local 773's most respected and retired members

Purpose: Awards graduating college students who are furthering their education beyond a 4-year degree to pursue a Master's Degree Program.

About Mary Jewel Smith: Mary Jewel Smith (1914-2001) was known for her smile and positive attitude, and she always had a kind word for everyone. She:

• Learned the importance of hard work early on while farming with her family in Miller City, Missouri
• Graduated Diehlstadt High School at age 16 and was the only one of her mother's children to graduate from high school
• Worked at Brown Shoe Company in Charleston, Missouri
• Worked at the munitions plant in Cairo, Illinois during World War II
• Was a proud member of Laborers' Local 773 who strongly believed that working people enjoyed good wages and working conditions because of unions
• Returned to work after her husband Connell F. Smith passed away in 1988
• Worked until age 87 for the Southern Illinois Laborers' Health & Welfare Fund in Cairo and was a firm believer in arriving early and staying until the job was done

Eligibility Requirements

Must meet all requirements outlined in the Connell F. Smith-Homer Brown (CFS-HB) scholarship, which include:

• Be the son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter, stepson/stepdaughter, or the member themselves of a Laborers' Local 773 member
• Minimum GPA of 2.6
• Complete a Union Member Interview with the related Laborers' Local 773 member
• Must be a person who gives back to the community

Application Process

Application details were referenced on the website with a "download application" link, but specific step-by-step instructions, required materials, or submission details were not provided in the extracted content. Applicants should follow the same application process as the Connell F. Smith-Homer Brown Scholarship Award.