For over a decade, the Wayland Union Education Foundation has enriched the lives of WUS students. A volunteer Board of Directors from the Wayland community governs the foundation and provides an avenue for permanent giving and support of our schools. Wayland Union Education Foundation Brochure
Wildcat Mural
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The first day that the first student walked into a Wayland Union Schools building, history began. Those first students, teachers, administrators, and support staff helped to make Wayland Union Schools what it is today.
Although the Wayland Union Education Foundation is not part of the schools, we are proud to contribute to the successes of staff and students by providing financing for grants, scholarships, camps, conferences, and more.
We are pleased to announce our newest project – A Wildcat Mural – which will be placed in the entryway of the new Fine Arts Center at the High School, upon completion. Our Board of Directors felt it important to do something to commemorate alumni, current students, staff, family, community members, businesses and friends, who would like to have their names permanently displayed as part of the Wildcat Mural.
For a one time donation, you too can have your name etched into the 8’x14’ glass Typography Mural, which will be the focal point of entering guests and visitors at the Fine Arts Center.
The enclosed brochure will hopefully answer your questions. If you desire more information, please e-mail us at info@waylandfoundation.org.
Please share this information with everyone you know who may be interested.
Deadline for obtaining names for the Mural is June 11, 2010. Thank you for your interest and support!
Claude Lewis Smith
April 22, 1909 - December 16, 2009
The family of Claude Smith has established a Math Scholarship in his memory, to be awarded beginning in 2011. It is the family's 
intention to award scholarships to high school students who are motivated to attend college and major in math. Following is a brief summary of Claude’s life. If you would like to make a donation to this scholarship, please send check or money order to: Wayland Union Education Foundation, PO Box 192, Wayland, MI 49348. Be sure to include a note, or put Claude Smith Memorial Scholarship in the memo of your check. All donations received in Claude’s memory will go directly to his Scholarship Fund.
As a youngster, Claude grew up on a farm near Green Lake in Allegan County where he attended Corning Country School. He graduated from Wayland High School in 1928 at the age of 19.
After graduation, he attended County Normal School for one year to obtain Teaching Credentials so that he could teach in the country schools in the area. His first school was Truax Country School. During that same time, he was also attending Western Michigan Teachers College, from which he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1937.
In 1940 he began teaching at Wayland Union in the building that was the predecessor of today’s Pine Street School.
In 1942, he went into the U.S. Army to serve during WWII. He spent time in Germany and England. He was discharged in 1945 and came back to Wayland Union to teach. During this time, he attended the University of Michigan during the summers and it was at that time that he earned his Master's Degree in 1950—the same year he married his wife, Virginia Parrish, also a teacher in Wayland.
He taught in the Wayland School District from 1940 to 1973, at which time he retired, his teaching career having spanned more than 40 years.
At Wayland he taught physics, biology, algebra, geometry, and general math during those early years. However in 1950, he became the high school mathematics teacher and spent the remaining years teaching algebra, geometry and trigonometry to his students.
His other activities at Wayland High also included driving bus, teaching driver’s education, directing plays and selling tickets at athletic events.
He was the first inductee into the Wayland Union Schools Alumni Hall of Fame in 2001.
Three children, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren survive him, as does his wife, Virginia, who turns 99, in September of 2010.
Mission statement: “The mission of the Wayland Union Education Foundation is to acquire funds and other assets for the purpose of supplementing and enriching the educational experience for the students of Wayland Union Schools.”
Wayland Union Education Foundation is a 501 (c) 3, tax-deductible organization
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