West Aurora High School Class of 1961 Fund

(Established 2005)

West Aurora High School

Read History of West Aurora High School

This fund provides scholarships for graduates of West Aurora High School and grants for educational initiatives that benefit current students at the school.

In 2005, a scholarship fund was created within the Community Foundation by members of the West Aurora High School Class of 1961 to honor the memory of a classmate who passed away.

Since that time, contributors and classmates have been developing ideas for what the scholarship awards might accomplish. The terms of the scholarships will be finalized prior to their awarding.

In 2011, the Class of 1961 considered additional charitable purposes for the fund in an effort to impact the lives of more students.

The option chosen was the development of a “Life Skills Lab” which is to be held before and/or after school to benefit West Aurora High School students and their parents.

The “Life Skills Lab” - the Class of 1961’s 50th reunion gift to its alma mater - provides experience and insights on the challenges and opportunities students face upon high school graduation.

Examples of topics include money and time management, work and business changes that affect career decisions, and new technologies that impact the workforce.

Sessions will be given during the academic year and will focus on the following concepts:

Making life’s moments and dollars count
Facing life’s changing career and job markets
Saving and bettering our lives

The overall goal of the “Life Skills Lab” is to spark the interest of students in promising areas and to expand their horizons as they consider their life’s goals, as well as learn from proven approaches and insights on meeting challenges and opportunities of life after West High.

Contributors to the West Aurora High School Class of 1961 Fund may designate their gifts for the original scholarship program or for the “Life Skills Lab.”

Any undesignated gifts will be reserved for the “Life Skills Lab.”