Auburn-Washburn Foundation
The Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation is made up of of parents, community members, and district staff who work together to provide alternative means to enhance, enrich, and expand education programs, which are unavailable via conventional funding, for Auburn-Washburn students.
Contact
Questions or comments may be directed to:
Jessica Roberts
Director of Communications
(785) 339-4072
roberjes@usd437.net
Members

Alex Reilly
- Secretary (MB Piland Advertising)

Russ Petty
- Treasurer (Petty Accounting)

Danielle Pettit
- Board Member (BCBSKS)

Sara Girard
- Board Member (Central National Bank)

Sean Carter
- Board Member (Compass Marketing & Advertising)

Heath Horyna
- Board Member (Evergy)

April Kelsey
- Board Member (Farm Bureau Insurance)

Jill Griego
- Board Member (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co)

Dustin Hawks
- Board Member (Gradient Insurance Brokerage)

Maria Kutina
- Board Member (HTK Architects)

Betsy Scott
- Board Member (Retired USD 437 Teacher)
Ex-Officio

Jessica Roberts
- Administrative Director

Jacquie Lightcap
- Board of Education Representative

Brad Noller
- Board of Education Representative

Dr. Scott McWilliams
- Superintendent
Social Media
Our annual Spring Breakfast, held yesterday morning at Topeka Civic Theatre, was a resounding success! Thanks to our generous sponsors, incredible community partners, and all who joined us bright and early, we raised nearly $30,000 to support student scholarships, classroom grants, and innovative programs that help our students thrive.
The event drew a full house and highlighted a wide range of student and staff accomplishments from throughout the year. A recording of the program is available to view on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjLUmThrct0:
00:00 | Welcome and Introductions by Foundation President Heath Horyna
02:53 | Classroom Grants in Action Video
06:55 | State of the District Address by Dr. Scott McWillliams
24:02 | Performance by Jay Shideler Elementary School Blue Jay Choir
31:02 | Student "Walk of Fame"
36:40 | Staff Recognitions
43:56 | Presentation by WRHS teacher Mike Steinert and students
57:36 | Performance by WRHS This Generation
Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, or played a role in making this event such a tremendous success! As the Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, your support fuels the impactful work happening across our schools every day.
Flashback to last Friday when we hosted our inaugural golf tournament at Cypress Ridge Golf Course! Thank you to the 90+ golfers who participated, as well as the dozens of local businesses that supported us! A special shout-out to the high school students who volunteered their time on a day off of school – golfers Higgins Hawks and Jackson Noller worked a specialty hole, while student photographers Rhiannon Good and Zach Schneider captured these photos.
Pulling off an event of this magnitude was a true team effort, but it is well worth it to raise additional funds to support our schools!
It's our favorite day of the year and why we do what we do! We are so proud to support these educators and their innovative ideas to enhance learning!
Auburn-Washburn USD 437
Members of the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation delivered an exciting surprise to educators across the district today, awarding classroom grants to fund a variety of initiatives related to financial literacy, STEM programming, emerging technologies, and more! Fifty-eight grants totaling more than $46,000 were awarded, with every school in the district receiving some level of support.
The mission of the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation is to enhance, enrich, and expand educational opportunities for students in USD 437. The Foundation began awarding classroom grants in 1999, and since that time, it has invested more than $705,000 in expanded learning opportunities for our students.
If you want to support the work of the Foundation, which in turn supports our students and educators, consider making a donation online at http://www.auburnwashburnfoundation.org.
Time is running out to secure your spot! Registration closes on October 11, so sign up today to join the fun.
📅 Date: Friday, October 18, 2024
🕒 Time: 11:30 am – Registration and Lunch | 12:30 pm – Shotgun Start
📍 Location: Cypress Ridge Golf Course
Register online: 2024awpsf.golfgenius.com
The Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation exists to expand, enrich, and enhance educational opportunities for students and staff across the district. Proceeds from the golf tournament will directly support:
⛳️Classroom Grants | Awarded each fall to fund innovative projects like music and art supplies, supplemental learning resources, and enhanced technologies.
⛳️Tech Student Scholarships | Offered each semester to high school students pursuing career and technical education at Washburn Tech to provide assistance with textbooks and program-specific equipment.
⛳️Greatest Need Opportunities | The Foundation also supports urgent and unexpected needs across the district, ensuring that resources are available when they’re needed most.
Golf Tournament
- October 18, 2024 at 11:30 AM
- Cypress Ridge Golf Course
Calling all golfers! The Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation is pleased to announce their inaugural golf tournament on Friday, October 18, 2024, at Cypress Ridge Golf Course. For more information or to register online, visit http://www.2024AWPSF.golfgenius.com.
⛳️CALLING ALL GOLFERS⛳️ We are pleased to announce our inaugural golf tournament benefiting the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation!
📆 Friday, October 18, 2024
⏰ 11:30 am - Registration and Lunch - 12:30 pm - Shotgun Start
📌 Cypress Ridge Golf Course
🔗 Register online at http://www.2024AWPSF.golfgenius.com
Sponsorship and donation opportunities are also available!
We awarded a record 76 classroom grants this fall, totaling more than $64,000 in support for supplemental learning resources, music and art supplies, enhanced technologies, and more! The availability of these grants is dependent upon private support from donors like you. Please consider supporting this fundraiser in its final days. https://rb.gy/63tk97
🚨3 DAYS REMAINING🚨to purchase a discount app! https://rb.gy/63tk97
For the past 25 years, we have distributed classroom grants to educators across the district. In that time, we have awarded 882 grants totaling an impressive $659,230! Our grant program is contingent upon donor support. Please consider making a contribution to this fundraiser in its final days.
As part of our mission to enhance, enrich, and expand educational programs throughout the district, we award thousands of dollars in classroom grants every year. The availability of these grants hinges on the amount of support we receive from our generous donors. Please consider supporting this fundraiser in its final days. Thank you! https://rb.gy/63tk97