WINFIELD, Kansas, June 1, 2020–Winfield National Education Association (WNEA) is pleased to announce that six Winfield High School seniors and one staff member will receive $500 scholarships through WNEA.
Each year, the WNEA awards scholarships to the children of the district’s staff members. This year, six seniors will receive the prize:
Elena Woodburn (Vanderbilt University)
Fiona Badley (Cottey College)
Josie McNutt (Cowley College)
Shelby Fuqua (Cowley College)
Emily Randall (Cowley College)
Kenzie Graham (Cowley College)
“USD 465 is like a family. We all have a part in raising the students in our community; it’s only right that we’d help send them to college. This money comes from educators for the families of educators,” said Michael Bumgarner, co-president of WNEA.
“This money will provide me the education that I need to complete the dream I want to accomplish. I want to impact the world through my art, and this will help me on that journey,” said Fiona Badley, WHS senior who plans to attend Cottey College in the fall.
For the first time, WNEA offered a teacher scholarship to an educator pursuing a higher education degree or National Board Certification. This year’s recipient is Vicki Shafer who is attending Fort Hays University for a master’s degree in SPED High Incident Education.
WNEA raises the money for scholarships through its Jeans for Kids drives. This offers employees of USD 465 the option of wearing jeans for the entire month of November and February for a small donation to the scholarship fund. This year, the initiative raised $2,849.
The purpose of WNEA is to advance the general educational interest of District 465 to elevate the standards of instruction in the public school, to create in the community a deeper sense and knowledge of the importance of public education and its relation to the general welfare, to stimulate professional attitudes and genuine spirit to adhere to the Code of Ethics, to negotiate in good faith with the Board of Education on all matters permitted by Kansas statutes, and to coordinate local action with the programs of the Kansas-NEA and National Education Association.
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.