Two Rhode Island Members Earn Degrees from National Labor College

JOURNAL: ISSUE 3 - 2013

On June 22nd outside Baltimore, Maryland, Local 3 Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island members Kevin Kinney and Matthew Paquette each received a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management from the National Labor College (NLC), the nation's only accredited higher education institution devoted exclusively to educating union members and their families, leaders and staff.

Paquette and Kinney, both 45, received tuition assistance through The Union Plus National Labor College Scholarship program, which awards $25,000 each year to eligible students.

Says Paquette, "It has been dream of mine for a long time to complete my Bachelors degree," Prior to joining BAC and becoming a journeyman bricklayer, he served in the Navy for 18 years, where he learned that there is always something new to learn. "I've always wanted to know more about the construction industry. The more I know, the more productive I am. I can't thank my union enough for making a lifelong dream of mine come true."

Kinney's NLC degree is his second. "I am really excited to see what doors open for me with the Construction Management degree," says Kinney, a BAC member since 2003. "It has been a big leap to go back to school, but I made it thanks to the support of my union. The NLC is an awesome experience; I couldn't have done it without my union."

Paquette and Kinney encourage other members to follow in their footsteps. Both men successfully balanced work and family while pursing their degrees. "If you are thinking about going, don't wait," says Paquette. "We're not getting any younger."
"If you have the opportunity to get your degree, you should do it," says Kinney. "Knowledge is power."

National Labor College graduates Kevin Kinney, left, and Matthew Paquette, right, both of Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI, with BAC President James Boland.