WCS MALONE ENDOWMENT RECEIVES ADDITIONAL $500,000 GIFT

By Katie Leiding ’04

In 1997, The Malone Family Foundation was founded with the goal of improving access to quality education for highly capable students who lack the financial resources to best develop their talents.

Dr. John C. Malone had been a recipient of a similar scholarship and dreamed of opening the door for other highly qualified students nationwide. The Foundation set a goal of selecting the top independent schools in the nation to each receive a $2,000,000 endowment to defray tuition and fees for gifted and talented students.

In 2008, Wichita Collegiate School was proud to be chosen as the sole Malone School for the state of Kansas, following a rigorous selection process that examined academic caliber; the quality of their staff; excellent accommodations for gifted and talented students; strong AP and enrichment programs; attention to the individual student’s needs, interests and talents; financial strength and stability; a commitment to financial aid; and an economically, culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse population.

To date, 21 students have attended Collegiate due to the Malone Family Foundation’s generosity. This highly selective scholarship for students in grades 7-12 provides 100 percent demonstrated need to cover the cost of attendance, as well as additional funds for the college search process, the lunch program, and many school sponsored trips, to ensure each of the Malone Scholars has the full Collegiate experience. school has benefitted not just from this incredible donation, but also from the network of the 50 selected Malone Schools. The Foundation has set up a community of mutual support, encouragement, and learning among the Malone Schools, and our administrators have regular meetings with the other Malone Schools to learn the best ideas happening across the nation.

While the Malone Foundation has selected their final schools and is beginning to sunset their operations, to showcase their continued desire to impact students, the Malone Family Foundation gifted each of their selected schools an additional $500,000 in June of 2023 to further fund our endowments. We were thrilled to receive this additional gift to help us offer the Collegiate experience to more bright future Spartans.

Our school has benefitted not just from this incredible donation, but also from the network of the 50 selected Malone Schools. The Foundation has set up a community of mutual support, encouragement, and learning among the Malone Schools, and our administrators have regular meetings with the other Malone Schools to learn the best ideas happening across the nation.

Collegiate is proud to be a steward of Dr. John C. Malone’s vision. We are grateful for this gift to bring more bright young minds to Collegiate and are thrilled that this impact will continue in perpetuity. Wichita Collegiate School will be looking to identify two new Malone Scholars for the 25-26 school year. Should you know a prospective student who would benefit from this opportunity, please have them contact Director of Enrollment Management, Kathy Rukes at krukes@wcsks.com.

We were able to catch up with a few graduated Malone Scholars recently. We appreciate their reflections as they look back on their time at Collegiate.

Looking back, what was your favorite experience at Collegiate?

I think my day-to-day routine best represents my WCS experience! I would go to morning tutorials, attend classes, occasionally host a club meeting after school, go to tennis practice, and then attend musical/play rehearsals in the evening. I didn’t have to pick and choose what activities to participate in. Collegiate made it so I could do it all while thriving academically. My days were busy, but I enjoyed every minute of it and developed a work ethic I use every day. My favorite experience was attending the ISAS arts festival in Oklahoma City my senior year! We performed songs from our fall musical, choral pieces, solos, and monologues. We met students from other schools showcasing their art. The bus ride made for lots of fun memories. It was the perfect ending to my high school performing career!

- Sabrina Wilson, WCS Class of 2022, University of Kansas Class of 2026

Could you share a story that might encapsulate or represent your time at Collegiate?

I vividly remember being an 8th grader leaving all of my friends in my hometown of Mulvane for a school I knew little about and worrying about making new friends. I quickly realized Collegiate is such a welcoming community and integrated me without a hitch. I developed a community that I truly felt a part of and supported me in countless ways. Fast forward to my senior year, I was so upset that I did not receive a scholarship to SMU and getting rejected from UCLA, two schools that I really wanted to go to. I remember being visibly upset during weights, and Coach Black saying to me, ‘It is their loss.’ The next morning I was sitting in the lunchroom and opened an email from Berkeley saying that I received an offer of admission. The Collegiate support staff rivals none and helped make me the person I am today.

- Trey Charbonneau, WCS Class of 2019, UC Berkeley Class of 2023

Who made the biggest impact in shaping your experience at Collegiate?

It’s difficult to choose just one person. As an athlete, Coach Black was more than my football coach; he was a teacher and mentor to me for four years. Mr. Ruhter’s passion for the classes he instructed was inspiring. His lessons taught me how to visualize math, and as a result, played a major role in helping determine my path in college. I respected Dr. Misak’s ability to break things down bit by bit, which allowed me to learn quickly, while Mrs. Gruetter showed me what a grind math could be. She taught me that you’re not good at math once you understand it, but rather you’re good at math once it becomes second nature. Ms. London made me a better writer by teaching me to pay attention to the details and dig deeper, skills I have applied in all aspects of my life. And from my initial campus tour of WCS my 8th grade year to announcing games with him through CSPN my senior year, Mr. Ashbrook was always a great mentor!

- Carson Phelps, WCS Class of 2023, MIT Class of 2027