Thomas and Virginia Schott of DuBois, first-generation college graduates and alumni of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Clarion University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest Clarion), respectively, have gifted IUP $25,000 to establish the Thomas and Virginia Schott Social Studies Scholarship at IUP.
Virginia Schott and Thomas Schott
Thomas Schott is a 1972 IUP social studies education graduate; Virginia Schott earned three degrees in library science from PennWest Clarion.
The Thomas and Virginia Schott Social Studies Scholarship is open to full-time students pursuing a degree in social studies education; students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be considered for the scholarship. Preference will be given to students from Elk County and then to students from Clearfield County. The couple also established a scholarship at PennWest Clarion for students from these counties studying library science.
“Ginny and I have reached the point of our lives where we can enjoy giving back to others through volunteering and by other means such as this scholarship,” Thomas Schott said.
“Both of us received our college education from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, so a scholarship to these institutions of our success seems most appropriate. We selected social studies because that was my major when I attended IUP from 1968 to 1972. The scholarship is designated first for a student from Elk County, where I grew up and went to high school in the small town of Johnsonburg,” he said. “Smaller counties are often overlooked in recruiting students, and we hope this scholarship will encourage additional interest in IUP and higher education. Clearfield County is listed second for consideration because Ginny is a lifetime resident of DuBois in Clearfield County, where we currently reside.”
After a career in journalism at newspapers in Ridgway and DuBois, including as managing editor of the DuBois newspaper, Thomas Schott worked at PennWest Clarion for 25 years in the University Relations office.
“My graduate assistants and student workers often would laugh when I would declare that IUP taught me to think. I meant it in the best way because I believe I graduated with a greater ability to analyze and understand what was going on around me,” he said. “Developing writing skills was also very important. I found I liked essay questions on exams, much to the horror of my friends. Later, I put those skills to good use when I worked for newspapers and then at Clarion University where I served as the information writer for the University Relations office.
“Although I never used my education degree as a full-time teacher, I did do some substitute teaching before moving into the newspaper and public relations world,” he said. “Today, I use the teaching skills I learned at IUP to lead a Bible study class at Christ Lutheran Church in DuBois and when I present history programs at the DuBois Area Historical Society.”
“As a first-generation college student, I arrived at Indiana with no clue as to how difficult this next step in my education would be. Through the guidance of faculty and administrators, I managed to make my way toward my degree and my future.
“I also met many new friends. The roommate I was paired with on my initial move-in day became a lifelong friend (sadly, he died in 2023). We roomed together for three years before going separate ways in our senior year. Both of us were also founding brothers of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity (no longer in existence on campus). Through Phi Kappa Theta I gained many more lifelong friends, several of whom still correspond with me on a regular basis,” he said.
“While student teaching I was invited to be a guest in the home of one of my fraternity brothers and his parents. Because of my fraternity involvement, I participated in service projects, homecoming events, intramurals, and other activities, which gained me leadership experience and confidence. These skills have translated into retirement where I serve on the executive board of the DuBois Area Historical Society and on various committees and church council at Christ Lutheran Church in in DuBois,” he said.