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2026 MWFA Scholarship Awards Dinner

November 5, 2026 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM (CST)

Description

Join us on November 5th as we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 2026 Scholarship recipients. The evening begins with a cash bar cocktail hour, followed by dinner, the scholarship presentation, and the election of our Board of Directors. We are thrilled to welcome Jarrett Payton as our guest speaker. Jarrett is a motivational speaker, Chicago broadcaster, and former professional football player, and son of legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.

Quest for 80: Scholarship Awards

In honor of MWFA's 80th anniversary, our Quest for 80 initiative is awarding over $80,000 in scholarships this year, our largest commitment yet. This is made possible by the incredible generosity of our members and the success of our events throughout 2026. With this year's awards, MWFA's scholarship giving since the program began now tops $1.15 million. These recipients have shown outstanding dedication and hard work, and we hope many of them will join us at the event.

Join us for an inspiring message from Jarrett Payton!


We are honored to welcome Jarrett Payton as this year's speaker for our Scholarship Dinner. Jarrett is a sought-after motivational speaker known for connecting with audiences of all ages, especially young people. His message centers on the power of education, character, and perseverance, drawn from his own journey through elite college football, the pros, and a career in broadcasting.

Jarrett played at the University of Miami, where he was named MVP of the 2004 Orange Bowl. He then played for the Tennessee Titans, won the 2005 World Bowl with the Amsterdam Admirals, and played in the CFL. After more than a decade as a sports anchor at WGN-TV, he now co-hosts The Haugh & Payton Show weekday mornings on 104.3 The Score. The son of Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton, Jarrett co-founded the Jarrett Payton Foundation with his wife, Trisha, carrying forward his father's legacy of making a difference in the community.

Elections for Board of Directors

If you have interest in serving on our Board of Directors (with a three-year term) or wish to nominate a deserving candidate, please get in touch with Francesca Lewis at mwfa@mwfa.org before October 31, 2026. Currently, the candidates for the Board of Directors include Cory Wing of Wing Hamlin, George Hunt of BBI, Mike Naidenovitch of AFI, Mike Crouch of ND Industries, and Herb Gottlett of Metal Resource Solutions. Your participation in casting a ballot is vital, as the Board of Directors plays a crucial role within our association.

Reservations must be placed and paid for prior to the meeting so we can give the restaurant an accurate count. Reservations placed but not filled will be invoiced, as we are billed for the guarantee given to the restaurant.

Time

Registration & Cocktail hour 5:30-6:30 PM Dinner & Awards Ceremony 6:30 PM

Contact Information

Name: Francesca Lewis
Email: mwfa@mwfa.org
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