Julie Holly

The Dr. George R. Schneck Elementary Education Scholarship was created in memory of Dr. George Schneck, professor in the College of Education and Human Services from 1966-96, by his wife, Julie M. Holly, and daughter, Rachel A. Kelbert. The scholarship is intended to advance educational opportunities for students with a demonstrated financial need and a strong commitment to the field of elementary education.

George hailed from a family of educators. His father John, a high school physics teacher and eventually principal, and his mother Della, who had earned a master’s degree in Romance languages, instilled the love of learning and the importance of education in their children. George’s siblings followed in their parents’ footsteps: his brother John earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later, a master’s degree in school administration, and his sister Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. All three children ‘caught the teaching bug,’ as George phrased it, early and well.

George spent his first two years teaching middle school science in the Elroy-Sparta School District, then relocated to Mt. Clemens, MI, where he taught middle school science for seven years. While at Mt. Clemens, he pursued a master’s degree in School Administration at the University of Michigan. In 1959, he was awarded a National Science Foundation grant through Michigan State University to upgrade science teachers in areas in which they needed improvement and participated in this graduate study from 1960-61. He then taught middle school science at Northern Illinois University. George completed his doctorate at Michigan State University, and in 1966, he joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where his teaching specialties were Science Methods and Environmental Education, as well as supervision of student teachers. He introduced the national programs Project Wild and Project Learning Tree to UW Oshkosh and in 1992, was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education. George remained at UW Oshkosh until his retirement in 1996. His knowledge and talent as an educator, along with his genuine caring approach, endeared him to his students throughout his teaching career. The art of teaching and learning was such a source of great joy for him that he would inspire others to ‘catch the teaching bug.’