The McGurren Family Endowment
A Legacy of Faith & Opportunity
For many families, Catholic education is both a cherished tradition and a financial sacrifice. Thanks to the generosity of the McGurren Family Endowment, established through the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, students like Amaya Wibbenmeyer and Madeline Klein can pursue their dreams while growing in faith, character, and leadership.
The McGurren Family has a long legacy of supporting Catholic education. More than 30 years ago, Ed and Nadine McGurren established family endowments with the intention of helping future generations thrive in their faith and education. Today, their son Steve carries that mission forward, ensuring that the McGurren Family Endowment continues to grow and to provide opportunities for students across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. “The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas provides excellent stewardship and support for anyone who establishes an Endowment or Scholarship Fund, or contributes to an existing one. I recommend it strongly!” Steve McGurren shares. His commitment reflects not only his family’s dedication to Catholic education but also their trust in the Foundation to honor donor intent and celebrate the impact of these scholarships for generations to come.
“Volleyball and soccer have taught me how to be a team player, celebrate others, and be a friend to everyone.”
Amaya Wibbenmeyer
This year, two young women, Amaya Wibbenmeyer from Saint Thomas Aquinas and Madeline Klein from Bishop Miege High School, were selected as recipients of the McGurren Family Endowment Scholarships. Their stories reflect how this generosity is transforming lives.
For Amaya, the scholarship is deeply personal. “This scholarship has helped my family and I to be able to continue my and my brother’s Catholic education,” she explains. Attending Aquinas has allowed her to deepen her faith while receiving a strong academic foundation. Amaya is involved in volleyball, soccer, and community service, and she reflects on how each experience has shaped her: “Volleyball and soccer have taught me how to be a team player, have mental toughness, celebrate others’ successes, be welcoming, be kind, and be a friend to everyone. Community service has shown me how to be grateful for everything I have and that we should help everyone, no matter what they are going through.” She sees this scholarship as an affirmation of her hard work and dedication. “It showed me how all my hard work in grade school has paid off. I really wanted to go to Aquinas, and this scholarship has made it possible for me to continue my Catholic education and grow in my faith.”
“Receiving this scholarship means I can go to school without worrying if I’m burdening my family financially.”
Madeline Klein
Madeline, a student at Bishop Miege, shares how the scholarship has eased the weight of financial stress for her family. “With this scholarship, I no longer have to do work study, and I can focus more on my homework, my projects, and my extracurricular activities,” she says. This relief has given Madeline the freedom to pursue her passion for theater—she is currently performing in the fall musical Mamma Mia. “Theater is one of my favorite things, and I am so grateful that I can focus on it this year. Receiving this scholarship means that I can go to school without worrying if I am burdening my family financially. I love that I can focus on the things that matter to me, and that I have less stress related to my schooling.”
The McGurren Family Endowment Scholarship is more than just financial assistance—it is an investment in the next generation of Catholic leaders. By making Catholic education accessible, this endowment allows students to deepen their faith, discover their gifts, and develop into compassionate leaders who will carry forward the values of service, faith, and community.
As Amaya and Madeline’s journeys show, the impact of this scholarship extends far beyond tuition. It provides peace of mind for families, encourages young people to pursue their talents, and strengthens Catholic education across the Archdiocese. Through the vision of the McGurren Family and the stewardship of the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, the gift of Catholic education continues to flourish—one student, one family, and one generation at a time.
If you have found yourself inspired to create a scholarship endowment or are interested in contributing to the McGurren Family Endowment, call (913) 647-3062.