WYNNE — The Wynne Yellowjacket Foundation will hold its fifth Hall of Honor Ceremony Friday, Sept. 4, during halftime at Yellowjacket Stadium. The ceremony will honor four outstanding alumni and educators from Wynne Public Schools. This year’s honorees are alumni Carol Brown and Robert “Bob” Ford, posthumously, and educators Shirley Hale and Sherry Phillians. Each of the four recipients will be honored with a personal plaque and one with a biographical sketch and photo to be displayed in the new high school.
Wynne’s Yellowjacket Foundation continues to promote its mission, vision and purpose to encourage and support educational endeavors in the community:
- To help meet the district and community expectations of an exemplary education for students by providing enriching student experiences;
- To expand the opportunities for every student to achieve at his or her fullest potential and become a successful and productive citizen; and
- To raise private dollars to support school programs that have not been funded or have been underfunded by the normal operating budget of the Wynne Public Schools.
Areas of the educational environment that are supported through this foundation are: academics, arts, and athletics. Because of the foundation’s 501(c)(3) status, contributors may claim a tax deduction and at the same time designate the area in which they would like to donate.
Information pertaining to the Yellowjacket Foundation and donation opportunities may be found by scanning its QR code. One may also go to the Wynne School District’s website at www.wynneschools.org under the “More” tab to find options to donate via check or online by clicking the yellow donate button. Additionally, there is a grant application packet and a Hall of Honor application for future nominations. The Yellowjacket Foundation pages also include a showcase of the Hall of Honor inductees and the executive committee.
There are currently 19 Yellowjacket Foundation board members: Levi Arens, Joann Bassham, Robert Brawner, Secretary Sherry Breckenridge, Kristy Davis, Kyle Alan Emerson, Michael Hirons, Misty Holbrook, Sandra Hollaway, Jim Huff, Mickey King, Treasurer Sharon Lawson, Stephanie Lyons, Sherry Phillians, John Smith, Kevin Watts, President Marion White, Brycial Williams, and Randy Yarnold.
The Yellowjacket Foundation approved grants in 2025-26 to support a music library for Choir, Guitar Ensemble, and General Music classes at Wynne Junior High School impacting 400 students, to support purchasing 30 glockenspiels for the music program at Wynne Primary School, and to purchase a string bass for the Wynne High School Band. Donations were also given to support students attending the Generation Conservation Summit and for the Medical Skills Career Technical Education class.
A Hall of Honor ceremony is held every two years by the Yellowjacket Foundation to showcase individuals who have significantly influenced students’ lives, made a notable impact as educators and in their chosen careers, and enriched their communities after leaving Wynne High School.
This year’s recipients and their families and friends will be honored at a drop-in reception before the football game at the Wynne Intermediate School library between 5:30 and 6:45 p.m.
The Wynne Yellowjacket Foundation wants to thank its donors for their support of students in Wynne Public Schools and to say “congratulations” to this year’s exemplary educators and alumni for their positive impact in the Wynne community!
