For decades, the CWA Joseph A. Beirne Foundation has awarded scholarships to up to 16 Union members and their immediate family. This year, Darnell Yates II, the son of a CWA 1037 member, was selected to receive a Beirne scholarship and will be attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where he was admitted into the Honors College with a very ambitious goal.
“I want to study teaching and optometry. My science classes will be medical school prerequisites so I can go straight into medical school,” Darnell explained.
Darnell hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, Darnell Yates Sr., who is Supervisor of Educational Programs at the Essex Regional School (operated by the Department of Children and Families), by teaching science.
“I want to become an educator and give back to the next generation. I want to be the one who inspires tomorrow’s pilots, teachers, construction workers, educators and more,” he explained. “But I’d also like to give back to people by practicing optometry, which is personal to me.”
His interest in optometry comes from his experience wearing glasses from a young age and being made to feel “less than” others who didn’t need corrective lenses.
Darnell’s father, Darnell Sr., had previously worked for charter schools without unions. “My impression from the time my father has been with CWA 1037 is that unions are really focused on supporting workers. I’m planning to work in the medical and education fields, and I would love the opportunity to be a part of a union myself, one day.”
Darnell played lineman for his high school football team and writes essays and R&B music. He is a published author.
“I also love to sing. My mom is a singer, and we come from a strong affiliated church family so I heard beautiful singing from a young age. I am a tenor, the highest male leading voice. I’ve sang at Lincoln Center with my high school, for a week-long tour during Christmas several years ago, which was a great experience.”
Darnell is excited to attend a highly rated Public Historically Black College or University and experience new things in college. “I think it’s good to be uncomfortable sometimes, to see a different part of yourself. I know I can build a community and be authentically myself. I’m ready for any obstacle that I may face.”
——————————————————————————————————————
Joe Beirne was CWA’s founding President and served from 1947 to 1974. CWA under Joe Beirne’s leadership broadened its organizing focus, grew steadily in numbers and strength, and used an innovative pattern bargaining strategy to raise wage and benefit standards throughout the communications industry.
The Joseph A. Beirne Foundation honors his lifelong commitment to education and progressive social causes. Up to 16 scholarships are awarded each year. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year will open in late 2026.