This scholarship fund was established by Jerry, Mike, and Tim Vogus in honor and memory of their wife and mother, Susan Laz Vogus (1947-2023). The scholarship will be awarded annually to two eligible Kane County applicants per year and will prioritize students with financial need.
Laz, as she was known to her friends, was an admired, beloved, and impactful activist, advocate, educator, leader, mother, and sister. She believed in the power of education and everyone having access to high-quality schools and a loving home where they could feel secure and supported. She created that for her family and was an outstanding teacher, whether serving students in inner-city Milwaukee or those pursuing a GED at the Illinois Youth Center. Later, she served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), helping children navigate the child welfare system, for which she was recognized as Illinois CASA Advocate of the Year in 2004.
She also saw the power of systems in providing educational opportunity. She was president of the District 303 school board and successfully organized a referendum for District 303 to ensure schools were adequately funded. She also developed legislation to more sustainably and equitably fund schools in Illinois. Her teaching and policy work had her recognized by President George H.W. Bush as one of his 1,000 Points of Light.
