In 1994, Bill Waynick created the Wilbur and Wilma T. Wildcat Endowed Scholarship Fund to honor and support those students who give hours of their time each year to bring the enduring Wildcat spirit to University of Arizona events.

Every school year, the students who perform as Wilbur and Wilma receive a modest scholarship from this fund to go toward their education at the UA.

“These scholarships are so important because of the amount of time Wilbur and Wilma give to the school,” said Waynick, who served as Wilbur the Wildcat from 1988-1992.

Waynick hopes renewed community support of the endowed scholarship fund will eventually allow it to cover tuition and books for the students.

“I felt like I owed everybody there something for the once-in-a-lifetime experience and support they gave me,” Waynick said. “I know all of us who put on the costume did it because we love the University and it wasn’t for recognition.”

This year’s 95th Annual UA Homecoming celebration marks a major milestone for Wilbur’s cheerleading and crowd-pleasing life – his 50th birthday.

Wilbur made his first appearance to UA fans on Nov. 7, 1959, at the UA vs. Texas Tech football game, with Ed Stuckenoff behind the mask. His “wife,” Wilma, made her first appearance almost 30 years later on March 1, 1986.