Abdul Ahad Raza, son of Rutgers Business School Assistant Dean Nadia Khokhar, earned a scholarship as a winner of the 2026 Middlesex Somerset CLC contest.
Raza’s winning essay described the formation of the United States labor movement rising from conditions of poverty wages, substandard housing and hazardous working conditions. Workers today have made great strides through collective action and advocacy, but still face the same threats in addition to those posed from work being undermined by artificial intelligence (AI), according to Raza.
“By acknowledging the fights that workers have won over the years inspires all URA members to keep fighting for improvements in our working conditions at Rutgers now, especially as we negotiate a successor contract,” said URA President Christine O’Connell.
Abdul will be graduating from East Brunswick High School and attending Rutgers University. He plans to study engineering.
“Congratulations to Abdul and welcome to Rutgers in the Fall,” said O’Connell. “And congratulations to his mom Nadia!”
Throughout the course of the year, URA-AFT lists scholarship opportunities through the county-based Central Labor Councils (CLCs), AFT and Union Plus in our member news and Member Benefits section of our web site Member Benefits – Union of Rutgers Administrators.
This week, the Southern NJ CLC announced a July 3 deadline for its scholarship program. See eligibility requirements and find the application at July 3 Scholarship Deadline.
