U-46 Educational Foundation
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The Legacy of Bud Wilson
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It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of E.C. “Bud” Wilson, who had served as the president of the U-46 Educational Foundation since 2015. Bud passed away on Sept. 14 at the age of 93.
While his leadership of the Foundation began in the last decade, he had been involved for nearly 60 years in work to support public education in the state’s second largest school district.
The father of six graduates of U-46, he served for 12 years on the U-46 Board of Education during the mid-1960s to mid-1970s, including some time as president. He was also a founding member of the Citizens’ Advisory Council (now called the Community Advisory Council), a Districtwide parent organization that has successfully pushed for new education policies and initiatives.
In 2014, Bud joined the board of the U-46 Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization that expands opportunities for U-46 students beyond what is possible with tax dollars. The next year, he was named as its president. Under his leadership, the Board developed a new strategic plan and hired its first full-time coordinator.
“He has been involved in education all his life, and U-46 was very near and dear to his heart,” said Foundation Coordinator Jean Bednar. “Bud was an engineer, and he applied that approach to getting the gears in place for the Foundation. His vision was that the Foundation oversee sizable endowment funds that would provide much-needed programming and supplies, as well as scholarships, for U-46 students well into the future. Now it's the legacy he has left us - to continue that work he started. But we will certainly miss his leadership.”
In addition to his contributions to U-46, Bud and his late wife, Marilyn, also a busy civic volunteer, inspired two of their six children, all college graduates, to become teachers and school board members, including former U-46 Board Member Amy Kerber.
Amy said her father often told her and her siblings to live their values and that “you can’t complain about a problem if you are not willing to roll up your sleeves and become part of the solution.”
Bud was recognized at the 2020 Distinguished Service Awards Program by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association. The statewide program honors those who have enhanced public education and conveyed its importance to the community on behalf of their schools and districts.


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Are you a
U-46 ALUMNUS ???
Register as a U-46 alum and the Foundation will be able to reach you with information about reunions, events at your high school, mentoring opportunities, Distinguished Alumni recognition, and more!

Grants
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Grants from the U-46 Educational Foundation fund our teachers' and staff's bright ideas, creating opportunities that expand student learning and well-being. Grants also help our community partners who are doing important work in our area to benefit U-46 students.
In the past three years, the Foundation has proudly funded 67 grants to teachers, staff, and community partners for a total of more than $68,000.
- Click here to read more about the grants awarded in 2022-23.
- Click here to read more about the grants awarded in 2021-22.
- Click here to read more about the grants awarded in 2020-21
Then be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to get updates on the 23/24 grant program!
Scholarships
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Thanks to your generous support, the U-46 Educational Foundation has given away more than $418,000 in scholarships to U-46 seniors. Click here for a list of our 2023 scholarship recipients.
The U-46 Educational Foundation manages several scholarships including:
- The Superintendent's Scholarship
- The Dr. Jean Bowen Scholarship Fund
- The Elgin Breakfast Rotary G. Michael Greene Scholarship
- The EHS Maroon's Leadership Fund
- The David & Edith Cole Scholarships
- The Dody Nesbit Scholarship Fund
- The Frances Turnquist Scholarship.
- The Ronald Raglin Teaching and Learning Scholarship
- The Lisa Mercado Memorial Scholarship For Bilingual Students
- The Malik M. Brown Memorial Scholarship
- The Gilbert I. Renner Scholarship
- The Douglas Hoeft Scholarship
- The Alice Pragman Award for English Excellence
- The Elgin High School PTO Scholarship
- Wisdom Family Foundation Scholarship
Are you a student wanting to apply for a scholarship? Go to this page to find out more about applying.
As the leading provider of scholarships for deserving U-46 students, we are proud to offer so many opportunities for our seniors. We work in collaboration with many local organizations and individuals, and we thank our scholarship providers for thinking of us as good stewards of your investment.
To learn more about establishing a scholarship or donating to existing ones, individuals, community groups, families, or businesses should contact the U-46 Educational Foundation at foundation@u-46.org.
Contact Us
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U-46 Educational Foundation
355 E. Chicago St., Elgin, IL 60120
Email: info@u-46.org
Phone: 847-888-5000, ext. 5040