Frank Jenkins, Jr. Fellowship in Labor Studies

Frank Jenkins, Jr.

The friends of Frank Jenkins Jr. (1903-1974) are proud to announce the establishment of the Frank Jenkins Jr. Fellowship in Labor Studies at the University of Washington.

Frank Jenkins Jr. was the grandson of a runaway slave, the first son of a Buffalo Soldier and a native Filipina, a member of the first known Filipino family in the Puget Sound region, and a lifelong civil rights and union rights activist. One of the first African Americans to hold a leadership role within the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Jenkins spent 49 years on the Seattle waterfront as a member of ILWU Local 19.

The Frank Jenkins, Jr. Fellowship in Labor Studies honors and preserves Jenkins’ lifelong commitment to the causes of social and economic justice by providing financial support for undergraduate and/or graduate students at the University of Washington. The award provides $6,000 in financial support, split over two years, to students who demonstrate commitment to the principles of justice, equality, and diversity.

Students at any of the University of Washington's three campuses (Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell) are eligible. Scholarship winners must demonstrate high academic achievement and be enrolled for Autumn Quarter of the upcoming academic year. To honor the work of Frank Jenkins, Jr., special preference will be given to applicants with a background and/or interest in waterfront-related industries or organized labor. Please note such background/interest is not necessary to receive the fellowship.

Click here for a short video about Frank Jenkins Jr. and his impact at the ILWU. 

Deadline to Apply for 2026-2027 Academic Year

Monday, May 4, 2026 at 11:59PM

Who Should Apply

The fellowship is awarded yearly to either undergraduate or graduate students at any of the University of Washington's three campuses (Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell). In their applications, students must show commitment to the principles of justice, equality, and diversity. Students with an interest in labor studies or a family background in labor and social justice are encouraged to apply. Reflecting the work of Frank Jenkins, Jr., special preference will be given to applicants with a background and/or interest in waterfront-related industries or organized labor, but such background/interest is not necessary to receive the fellowship. 

If you have applied to the University of Washington but have not yet received notice from the Admissions Office, you are eligible for the scholarship. However, the award will be contingent on your admittance to the UW.

How to Apply

To apply, a student should prepare the following materials:

  1. Essay responses. Please prepare written answers to the following questions. We recommend compiling answers into a separate document before entering them into the online application. This will ensure your responses are saved on multiple platforms, as answers entered in the online application are not saved until they are submitted.
    • Tell us about any labor, social justice, or racial justice issues that you are passionate about and why these issues matter to you. Please share your history of involvement with these issues, which may include but is not limited to personal experience, advocacy, or research. If relevant, highlight issues related to waterfront industries or organized labor. Please limit your response to 800 words or less.
    • How will funding from the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies support the goals you have for your education at the University of Washington? How do you plan to engage with the labor movement during your studies here? How will funding prepare you for what you want to accomplish upon completion of your degree? Again, if relevant, highlight issues relevant to waterfront industries or organized labor. Please limit your response to 400 words or less.
  2. A brief letter of support from a teacher or community member.
  3. A high school or college transcript (whichever is most recent). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
  4. Up-to-date contact information, including e-mail, mailing addresses, and phone numbers.
  5. Optional: Additional documents demonstrating your commitment to labor or Labor Studies, such as a resume or curriculum vitae, may also be submitted.

How to Submit Your Application

The online application for all Labor Studies scholarships and fellowships for the 2026-2027 academic year opens in Spring Quarter. A link to the online application portal will be posted on the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies website. By submitting the online application, you will be considered for all Labor Studies awards you qualify for.

Questions about the application or scholarship terms? Call (206) 543-7946 or e-mail hbcls@uw.edu.

Terms of the Frank Jenkins, Jr. Fellowship

  1. Fellowship recipients will receive $3,000 per year for two years ($6,000 total) while enrolled as students of the University of Washington. The fellowship may be used for any required components of the cost of education at the University, including tuition, books, or materials. The second year of funding will be contingent on meeting the terms outlined below.
  2. Students will integrate labor studies into their University of Washington education by seeking out labor-related classes during their first and second years. Students will receive advising and support from the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies in order to meet this requirement.
    • Undergraduate students will be required to take one of the two foundational classes of the Minor in Labor Studies (HISTCMP 249/POL S 249/SOC 266: Introduction to Labor Studies or HISTAA 353: Class, Labor, and American Capitalism) and consider pursuing a Minor in Labor Studies during their second year. Exceptions will be considered for students pursuing degrees without room within their requirements for Labor Studies classes.
    • Graduate students will be required to become a member of the Graduate Student Associates of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies and demonstrate labor-related content in their coursework.
  3. Students will become engaged with the labor movement either on campus or outside the campus. While the form of involvement is up to the student, the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies can advise and support student placements as needed.
    • On-campus undergraduate student groups include, but are not limited to United Students Against Sweatshop (USAS) and MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán), UW Black Student Union, or UW Filipino American Student Association (FASA). Graduate student organizations include Students for Labor and Employment Justice (SLEJ) and the academic employees union UAW 4121.
    • Students may also become involved off-campus in local, national, or international labor activism. This can include, but is not limited to an internship with a local labor organization, which can be arranged by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies.
  4. Students will participate in events organized by the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, including the Annual Awards Celebration in fall and the Labor Studies Social in winter. Graduate students will be expected to regularly attend the Labor Studies Workshare series (three times per quarter). Dates and details of other events will be announced at the beginning of each quarter.
  5. Students will submit their transcripts to the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies at the end of their first and second academic years.
  6. Students will meet with the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies staff every quarter during the scholarship period to discuss their progress through the fellowship requirements.
  7. At the end of each fellowship year, students will provide a one-page report on their activities related to labor activism and labor studies.

More About Frank Jenkins, Jr.

Support the Frank Jenkins Fellowship Fund

Make a Donation Online

Donations to the Frank Jenkins Fellowship Fund may be made securely with a credit card by following the instructions below.

 

 

Make a Donation By Check

To make a contribution by check, please make out your check to "UW Foundation - Jenkins Fund," and mail it to:

Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies
University of Washington UW Box 353530 Seattle, WA 98195-3530

Questions? Please contact the Bridges Center at (206) 543-7946 or hbcls@uw.edu.

Previous Winners

2019: Alika Bourgette & Paulette Thompson

2020: John McClung & Jey Saung

2021: Diana Vergara

2022: Amber Pilgreen & Yuying Xie

2023: Jamelah Jacob & Soohyung Hur

2024: Eulalie Mathieu & Jordan F.S.

2025: Justin Hirsch