IAM spouse awarded the USA’s first scholarship
When Donna Sands reflects on her journey through life, she sees a path shaped by perseverance, a passion for the outdoors, and a deep commitment to service. Now, as the recipient of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) first scholarship to Franklin University, she is ready to take the next step–both for her career and the community she serves.
Sands, a resident of Stevenson, Alabama, has dedicated over 18 years to the Graham Farm & Nature Center (GFNC), where she now works as the program coordinator. Her goal is to continue her education so that she might one day become director of the center, which is a 491-acre demonstration farm and environmental education center.
The Union Sportsmen’s Aliiance’s first scholarship recipient, Donna Sands.
While working at GFNC, Donna returned to school in 2020 as a non-traditional student, earning an associate’s degree in business management and a certificate in sustainability—both with summa cum laude honors. “I was reluctant to return to school,” she says. “But I took the leap… and it became clear what I needed to do to advance myself physically, mentally, and professionally.” Her plan is to build upon that degree, but sometimes life has other ideas.
Academic challenges paled in comparison to what happened in 2017. While conducting a trail survey at GFNC, she suffered a life-threatening fall into a sinkhole, resulting in severe injuries and a long, arduous recovery. “Sixty-seven staples, three times as many stitches, and multiple broken bones, but I persevered,” she says. Her resilience is now memorialized at GFNC. “We have an 8.5-mile trail system, and the trail with my sinkhole is named Guardian Angels and blazed red on the map. My boss picked the color, and I chose the name.”
The Power of the Union College Benefit
Receiving the USA’s College Benefit Scholarship is more than a financial boost for Sands—it is validation of her hard work and a catalyst for her future goals. “This scholarship aligns with my belief and passion,” she says. “It will allow me to advance in my current career, promoting what the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance believes in: spending time in the great outdoors. I am a hard worker dedicated to the mission of preservation, conservation, and education of all our natural resources.”
In late 2024, the USA partnered with Employee Benefit Systems, Inc. (EBS) to provide USA members with access to the Union College Benefit, which is designed to make higher education accessible and affordable. By taking advantage of the benefit, union members and their families can pursue unlimited associate and bachelor-level courses online at Franklin University, with free textbooks and flexible scheduling to accommodate working adults. The program offers up to 50% discounted tuition rates at EBS network colleges and universities, supporting over 150 degree programs and certificates, including business, education, IT, and more.
As part of the new partnership and a generous donation from Franklin University, the USA unveiled its first scholarship in early 2025, inviting USA members and their families to apply. The value of the scholarship is $5,250 per year and allows the recipient to take unlimited associate and bachelor’s degree courses for up to six years of continuous enrollment.
USA scholarship winner Donna Sands poses with USA CEO Walt Ingram (left), USA Communications Director Kate Nation (left center), Franklin University President Dr. David Decker (right center) and Franklin University Bill Chan
“The EBS Union College Benefit is a tremendous resource for USA members and their families to further their education without sacrificing their careers,” says Walt Ingram, USA executive director & CEO. For Sands, this means she can continue her studies while maintaining her vital role at GFNC and preparing to advance into a leadership position.
“My career goal is to advance within the organization I have been with for 18-plus years. I hope to replace my current supervisor when he retires; however, a B.S. Degree will be required,” Sands says.
A Tradition of Union Values and Service
Sands’s connection to the union runs deep. Her husband is a lifetime member of IAM Local 1458, and union values are a cornerstone of their family. “Unions provide a voice for their members and establish better working conditions for everyone,” Sands says. She credits the union for enabling her family to live a comfortable life and for instilling in her children the importance of advocacy and fairness. Her son, a fourth-generation machinist, was also a union scholarship recipient and now serves as a job steward and recording secretary for his local.
As if work, family, and school didn’t keep her busy enough, Sands continues to volunteer with outdoor cleanup projects, serve on the executive committee of her county’s United Givers Fund, and teach children about kayaking, water quality, and fishing. “Imagine kids casting a rod and reel for the first time and wading in a creek. I have the pleasure of doing this regularly, especially in the summer,” she says.
Her work is rooted in the belief that connecting with nature is essential for physical and mental health. “We need to appreciate and understand our outdoor world and the bounty it brings,” she says. “The need to protect access to public outdoor space is increasingly challenging. The traditions of a sportsman are being forgotten. It is up to us to preserve and pass on the love of the outdoors.”
