The Waubonsee Community College Foundation has received its largest single donation to date, in the amount of $348,000, from the estate of John (Jay) and LaVeral (Lea) Fitz. This gift establishes the “John and LaVeral Fitz Endowed Scholarship,” in memory of its benefactors. As per their wishes, the awards generated from this scholarship will be split equally toward students pursuing nursing or fine arts majors.
While neither she or Jay attended Waubonsee themselves, Lea became acquainted with faculty members across the music and art departments throughout her retirement while living in Sugar Grove. Their wish to ensure students receive the support they need in reaching their educational goals has created a transformative legacy at Waubonsee.
“We are tremendously grateful for this generous gift as it will help nursing and fine arts students for many years to come,” said Dr. Melinda Tejada, Vice President of Student Development and Executive Director of the Foundation. “It’s remarkable to see how much students flourish when the worry of paying for college is removed and I can’t imagine a better way to honor the Fitz family.”
Each year, the Waubonsee Community College Foundation raises funds to provide scholarships for deserving area students to access quality education. Currently, the Foundation administers over 160 scholarships, many with multiple awards ranging from $250 to $3,500. The Foundation scholarship application is made available each fall for the upcoming academic year. By completing one online application, current and prospective Waubonsee students are considered for all Foundation scholarship opportunities they meet the criteria for, now including the John and LaVeral Fitz Endowed Scholarship. To learn more about how to apply, please visit waubonsee.edu/foundationscholarship. Questions about the Foundation Scholarship program should be directed to the Development Office at foundation@waubonsee.edu or (630) 466-2316.
