Jorge Alvarez, a 2015 graduate of Central Valley High School, has won a $5,000 college scholarship from Operating Engineers Local 3.

Alvarez, the son of Local 3 member Jorge Alvarez, was chosen for his outstanding academic achievements and involvement in extra-curricular activities. While playing for the soccer team, captaining the varsity baseball team and fulfilling his role as senior class secretary, Alvarez was able to excel academically, ranking within the top 10 percent of his class.

Alvarez has applied to several universities, including San Jose State University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and plans to pursue an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering. He has seen the value of unionism firsthand and was a great candidate for this award.

"Union's will be on one's side during the hardest of times," he wrote. "I feel secure that my father is protected very well by the union."

Alvarez was the third-place male academic winner. A Local 3 representative presented him with an award at a luncheon on July 19.

Operating Engineers Local 3 represents about 35,000 heavy equipment operators and other workers in construction, public works and law enforcement and will award 31 college scholarships this year. This includes two first-place academic scholarships of $10,000 each, two second-place academic scholarships of $7,500 each, two third-place academic scholarships of $5,000 each and 25 merit scholarships of $1,000 each.