The Wayne L. Sampson Memorial
Educators Scholarship

This fund was started in February of 2010 in memory of Wayne L. Sampson by Mr. Sampson's wife, Janice, and their two adult children, Brian Sampson, and Sally Sampson Craft. The fund generates an annual scholarship for a senior at MHS or a prior graduate from MHS a scholarship to allow that student to attend a college or university to pursue a degree in education.

The Wayne L. Sampson Memorial Educator’s Scholarship has been awarded annually since 2010.  It was established by his wife, Janice, and their two children, Sally Sampson Craft and Brian Sampson.  Both Sally and Brian were educated in the Morton school system.  The scholarship is annually awarded to a graduating senior at Morton High School or prior graduate of MHS whose goal is to enter the field of education.  A faculty and administrative committee selects the recipient of the award based on academic ability, financial need, moral character, leadership and participation in school and community activities.

Wayne L. Sampson received a Bachelor Degree in Vocational Agriculture and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Illinois.   He taught Vocational Agriculture at Annawan High School and joined the faculty of Illinois Central College in 1967.  While at ICC, he also held the position of Department Chair and served as President of the Illinois Vocational Association.   He served on the Morton Unit District 709 School Board from 1975 to 1987 and became active in the Illinois Association of School Boards.  He served as their State President for two years, joined the staff of IASB in 1988, and held the position of Executive Director from 1989 until his retirement in 2000.  After retirement, as Chair of the Forward in Faith Building Committee at Morton United Methodist Church, he provided leadership in relocating to a new church building.  Wayne passed away on July 21, 2009 at the age of 67.

Wayne was a visionary leader who had a great concern for the quality of public education in Illinois. He believed that all students should receive an education that would provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning.  It is the hope of Wayne’s family that this scholarship will help the recipients realize their dreams of being the kind of educators who make a difference.

Legacy and stability. Endowed gifts provide a gift that lasts forever. Your gift is invested over time.  Earnings from the fund are used to provide annual scholarships.  Scholarships made from the Wayne L. Sampson Memorial Educator’s Scholarship Fund will continue beyond our lifetimes. The fund will grow as future donors, with a concern for excellence in education, add to it, thus providing increasingly larger scholarships well into the future.

Qualifications for this Scholarship:

• Must be a MHS senior who will be attending college or university in the year immediately after graduation or a past graduate from MHS.

• Has participated in and/or demonstrated a commitment to becoming an educator.

• Has demonstrated the following attributes during and after school hours: Positive attitude, Encourages others, High moral character, Hard working, Compassionate, Non-judgemental/Open-minded, Role model to underclassmen, High academic merit.

• Financial need shall be considered in the selection process.

• Each applicant shall complete an essay to be reviewed by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the essay questions to be asked, but it is the Donor’s intent that the Committee ascertain:

  • Why the applicant wants to become an educator and states all reasons why becoming an educator is important to the applicant.

  • The applicant shall state at least four (4) qualities that he/she considers necessary to be an excellent educator and why each is important.

HOW TO APPLY:

Morton High School students who feel they may qualify for this scholarship can pick up an application in the Morton High School counseling office beginning in mid-February each year. Applications must be filled out and submitted to the counseling office in mid-March. You may inquire in the counseling office for specific pickup dates and deadlines each year.

Past scholarship recipients:

2012 - Kelsey Kirk

2013 - colby spengler

2014 - luke knight

2015 - faith kruzick

2016 - kayla smock

2017 - Jacey Wharram

2018 - MACY MEISS

2019 - CALEB SAUDER

2020 - MADISON INGOLD

2021 - KLAIRE ABERLE

2022 - ADELINE KENNELL

2023 - mary kate muniz

2024 - tyla mattson

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund, please click the button below for online donations. Or, you can mail a check to 135 S First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550.