Dennis & Linda Murray representing the Sherry Murray family presented the Wayne Community Schools Foundation with a $20,000.00 donation from the Kevin J. Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament held last August. Kevin Murray was a 1978 graduate of Wayne High School. On August 23th of this year, the 21st annual Kevin J Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament was held at Lewis and Clark Lake with 72 teams participating. All proceeds from this tournament are donated to the Wayne Community Schools Foundation. Over the past 21 years the Murray family has donated $232,000 to the Foundation. Donations from this event have been used to provide two scholarships and a leadership awards each year to graduating seniors in memory of Kevin. Seventy two students have been awarded the Kevin J. Murray Memorial Scholarship since 2004.

The 21st Kevin J. Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament was held last Saturday August 23rd at Lewis & Clark lake. There were 79 teams entered in the tournament. Proceeds from this tournament are donated to the WCSF for scholarships in memory of Kevin Murray a 1978 graduate of WHS. Sherry Murray and her family organize and host this tournament for the past 21 years. Thank You!!!

The Wayne Community Schools Foundation Board of Directors recently presented a check to Courtney Maas, Principle of the Early Learning Center and the Wayne Community Schools for $140,000.00 for the new playground equipment installed at the Early Learning Center. The playground is accessible and open to the public. This donation was made possible the generosity of our donors. THANK YOU!!!

The Wayne Community Schools Foundation Board of Directors pledged $50,000 to assist the school district in the purchase of playground equipment for the new Early Learning Center. In addition, the Foundation’s will donate designated donations from the Annual Alumni and Friends 2024 Campaign. As of May 15, 2025 the total amount for this project will be $140,000. The playground equipment will be built in early June of 2025. Once project is completed the Foundation will update this information.

The Wayne Community Schools Foundation Board of Directors pledged $50,000 to assist the school district in the purchase of playground equipment for the new Early Learning Center. In addition, the Foundation’s will donate designated donations from the Annual Alumni and Friends 2024 Campaign. As of May 15, 2025 the total amount for this project will be $140,000. The playground equipment will be built in early June of 2025. Once project is completed the Foundation will update this information.

Bob and Debbie Ensz (Debbie passed away in March 2024) were recognized as “Friends of the Wayne Community Schools Foundation” at the Class of 2025 Commencement. Debbie was the first President of the Board of Directors and Bob served as Secretary of the board. They were instrumental in establishing the Foundation in May of 1988. They have continued to support the Foundation and the students of the district by endowing the Edith Huse Wightman Scholarship (Debbie’s mother) and the Debbie Ensz Memorial Endowed Scholarship. Bob has volunteered as a teacher/coach of the Mock Trial Team for the past 40 years. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students.

On behalf of the Haystack and Plum Creek Wind projects, Orsted provided a $10,000 donation to the Wayne Community Schools Foundation to build a new outdoor playground to accompany a new Kindergarten through 2nd-grade school building. Standing at the site of the future new playground, Orsted Plant Manager Jason Gilliam presents a check to Rusty Parker, Director of the Wayne Community Schools Foundation. As part of its commitment to being a good neighbor, Orsted joins local families in contributing to schools, first responders, and charitable organizations near its project sites to help support local communities.

Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust have been Matching Donors to the Wayne Publics Schools Staff Campaign for several years. Matching donors donation fund the IDEA PROJECT Teacher Grants. Every March teachers complete an application process and the WCSF Board selects 3 to 5 proposals to receive a $1500.00 grants. Since the inception (2013) of the IDEA POJECT the Foundation has awarded approximately $36,000 in grants. Grants are used to purchase tangible items in teacher class rooms to benefit students. Additional matching donors will be highlighted in the future. Thank you Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust!

Sherry Murray and Family are recognized as a “FRIEND OF WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION”. Sherry Murray and her family have sponsored the Kevin J Murray Memorial Fishing Tournament for 20 years. Proceeds from this event are donated to the WCSF. This year $17,000.00 will be donated to the Foundation which makes the total amount donated $212,000.00. These donations have provided 54 scholarships and awards in memory of Kevin J Murray. They have also donated to many other projects at WHS such as weight equipment, rubber floor matting, playground equipment, Kern Track Lighting Project and to the Industrial Technology department.