The Aurora East Educational Foundation Scholarship Fund was created by the Aurora East Educational Foundation.
Scholarships from the Fund shall be available to students graduating from East Aurora High School who reside within East Aurora School District 131.
Students must attend an accredited institution of higher education within the United States of America on a full-time basis. Accredited institutions may include a two-year college, four-year college or university, or a professional/trade/vocational school.
The Aurora East Educational Foundation was founded in 1993 to fund educational programs in East Aurora School District 131 and throughout the years the foundation has funded scores of programs that have touched the lives of thousands of students throughout the district.
The AEEF would like to recognize and thank the following benefactors whose generosity makes these scholarships possible.
Note: The following scholarships are housed within the Aurora East Educational Foundation and are not individual funds within the CFFRV Scholarship Program.
Dick’s Mini Donuts, LLC Aurora East Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship
Richard “Dick” Schindel is a 1966 graduate of East High School and is also a graduate of the University of Illinois. He spent his entire professional career, from 1970 until 2005, in education. He began teaching in Dist. 131 in 1973, and at East High School in 1979. He became head of the Business Education department in 1986, served as varsity head coach in football and softball, and also as a lower-level baseball coach.
Mr. Schindel has always been involved in community activities and organizations that give back to those in need. As the small business owner of Dick’s Mini Donuts, LLC, which he began in 1996, he has been able to help individual schools and organizations raise funds for needed projects. Mr. Schindel believes that this scholarship is another means to help fund projects that will benefit the greater good.
William R. McCormack Aurora East Educational Foundation Vocational Studies Scholarship
The family of William McCormack, who passed away in 2018, has established the William R. McCormack Aurora East Educational Foundation Vocational Scholarship.
Mr. McCormack was born in Kansas, joined the US Air Force at the age of 18, and was trained as an air traffic controller. He was transferred to the Aurora control center in 1965, and with his wife, Dorothy, built a house on the East Side. He was an active controller for 30 years, and an instructor for an additional 20 years.
Mr. McCormack’s three children attended East Aurora schools, and were involved in several sports, activities, and music. He became an active supporter at all of his children’s events, and thus his love for East Aurora ran deep. Mr. and Mrs. McCormack supported other athletic teams and the arts because of their devotion to East Aurora.
After his children graduated, he continued to support the Tomcats by attending athletic events and musical productions. He also became an athletic official, and occasionally worked at East High girls’ matches and games.
Mr. McCormack was proud to have been a Tomcat fan for over 60 years. He would have been honored to support East Aurora students in pursuing their futures.
Bob and Judy McCue AEEF Scholarship
The Aurora East Educational Foundation has established the Bob and Judy McCue Scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year.
Bob, a 1956 East Aurora graduate, and Judy, who graduated from Madonna High School in that same year, have been very active in the East High and Dist. 131 communities for almost all of their lives.
Judy worked for the Burlington Railroad until 1959, and later was the school board president at Hermes Elementary School for two years.
Bob has an amazing resume in the East Aurora school community, and it began when he was a student. He won two varsity letters in football and basketball, and was also team captain in football. He earned three varsity letters in track, and qualified for the state meet all of those years. He then attended Western Illinois University, and earned two football letters there.
Judy and Bob are the proud parents of one daughter and five sons, and each of them attended Hermes Elementary School, Simmons Middle School, and graduated from East Aurora.
Bob served on the Dist. 131 Board of Education for 12 years, and received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for service to mankind, bringing honor to the community, and being a positive example to students. He has also been on the Old Timers Committee for 15 years, and has served the community coaching boys’ baseball and girls’ softball. He is a true Tomcat and can be said to “bleed the red and black.”
The AEEF is proud of Bob and Judy, and of the entire McCue family. They are among the hardest working and most loyal families in the history of East High School and Dist. 131. We are grateful for the scholarship established in their names.
Chris and Diamanto Mesiacos AEEF Scholarship offered by Ted Mesiacos
The Chris and Diamanto Mesiacos Trades Scholarship has been established by the Aurora East Educational Foundation through the generosity of Aurora Alderman Ted Mesiacos. Ted has served as Alderman of the Third Ward since 2013. He was born and raised on the East Side, and is an East Aurora Graduate.
Seeking the American Dream, Chris Mesiacos left Greece and arrived in the United States in 1956. He married his wife Diamanto, also a Greek immigrant, in 1960 and together they raised a loving family of three children in Aurora. Chris was a machinist for 32 years with Seal Master/Borg Warner, and Diamanto was a seamstress at two companies in Aurora for two decades.
As US citizens, they spent countless hours volunteering in support of their local church and community while setting an example for their children on the importance of paying it forward. They assisted immigrant families find housing and work so that they also could succeed when they arrived to make Aurora their new home.
Having lost his mom early in life and then being raised by his father, Alderman Mesiacos realized the importance the trades played in his growth and eventual successes as a husband, father, architect, and public servant. The Chris and Diamanto Mesiacos Trades Scholarship has been established by the AEEF to honor their memory, plentiful successes, and their belief that life is a calling beyond oneself.
Mario and Shirley Fazio AEEF Scholarship
As part of their continuing generosity to the Aurora East Educational Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Rich and Margie Fazio have established the Mario and Shirley Fazio Scholarship in tribute to Rich’s parents.
After meeting in high school in Chicago, Mario and Shirley Fazio were married when Mario returned from service in the US Navy after World War II.
After working as a milkman for over 30 years, Mario began a new and successful real estate career. Rich Fazio recalled that his dad was a “self-made man that never looked past a challenge.” He also volunteered in Boy Scouts, church committees, and served with the local Lions Club, including a time as its president.
Shirley was a partner in a dancing school which she and Mario started from the ground up after they won the Harvest Moon Ballroom Dance competition of 1956. She volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, den mother, and in many of the school programs. Later in life, wanting to do more, she ran for public office to become a member of the city planning board for several terms. She was a township trustee and also president of a women’s political support group.
Speaking of his parents, Rich Fazio remembered that “they were always generous of their time and money. They believed that given the OPPORTUNITY, people working hard can do great things.” Rich and Margie are hopeful that the recipient of this scholarship will use his or her spirit of entrepreneurship to make a positive impact within the community.
Malcor Roofing AEEF Scholarship
The Aurora East Educational Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Malcor Roofing AEEF Scholarship.
Three generations and nearly 100 years later, the Theisen family and Malcor have become two of the most respected names in the roofing industry in Chicago’s western suburbs. Providing quality, professional roofing and repair services, Malcor Roofing of Illinois, Inc. specializes in the application of single-ply, built-up and modified roofing systems for industrial and commercial buildings.
Today, and with over 35 years of industry experience, third generation owner Scott Theisen continues the family born commitment of developing quality relationships with local communities and customers. This history of dedication to customer service and quality have earned Malcor the respect that consistently creates repeat business and life-long customers.
Nearly 100 years after inception, Malcor is an acknowledged leader in commercial roofing – proving that customer service excellence, paired with reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail continue to stand the test of time. For additional info go to: https://www.malcorroofing.com/
Many thanks to Scott Theisen and his team at Malcor Roofing for their generosity in supporting Tomcat graduates.
